jkkjkljj - trafford...jkkjkljj trafford council hiamp 2017-2026 october 2017 highway infrastructure...

jkkjkljj

Trafford Council HIAMP 2017-2026

October 2017

Highway Infrastructure

Asset Management Plan 2017-2026

Trafford Council - Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan 2

Sign Off Sheet This sign off sheet verifies that relevant stakeholders have been made aware of the Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan, and all responsibilities within. It is their responsibility to make sure the HIAMP is circulated to all relevant stakeholders, and is updated annually keeping the document live.

Title Signature Date

Corporate Director, Economic Growth, Environment and Infrastructure, Trafford Council

Dec 2017

Executive Member for Highways, Parks and Environmental Services, Trafford Council

Dec 2017

Highway Manager, One Trafford Partnership, Trafford Council

Dec 2017

Principal Engineering Manager, One Trafford Partnership, Amey

Dec 2017


Corporate Director, Economic Growth, Environment and Infrastructure, Trafford Council 2018

Executive Member for Highways, Parks and Environmental Services, Trafford Council 2018

Highway Manager, One Trafford Partnership, Trafford Council 2018

Principal Engineering Manager, One Trafford Partnership, Amey 2018


Corporate Director, Economic Growth, Environment and Infrastructure, Trafford Council 2019

Executive Member for Highways, Parks and Environmental Services, Trafford Council 2019

Highway Manager, One Trafford Partnership, Trafford Council 2019


Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 7

Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 9

Success of Trafford Council’s Previous Asset Management Approach and TAMP ..................................... 9

Trafford’s Asset Management Approach in the HIAMP .......................................................................... 9

Implementation ............................................................................................................................... 10

Background ............................................................................................................................... 12

UKRLG HMEP Summary of the Recommendations .............................................................................. 13

Part A – Asset Management Context ........................................................................................ 15

UKRLG Recommendation 1. Asset Management Framework ................................................... 15

Our Approach - Asset Management Framework .................................................................................. 15

Legal, Policy and Codes ................................................................................................................. 16

Financial ....................................................................................................................................... 16

Our Approach - Asset Management Planning ..................................................................................... 17

Our Approach - Asset Management Enablers ..................................................................................... 17

Our Approach - Delivery ................................................................................................................... 17

One Trafford ................................................................................................................................. 17

UKRLG Recommendation 2. Communication ............................................................................ 19

Our Approach - Communication ........................................................................................................ 19

Stakeholders ................................................................................................................................. 19

Elected Members .......................................................................................................................... 20

Public ........................................................................................................................................... 20

National Highways & Transportation Survey (NHT).......................................................................... 20

Asset Valuation ............................................................................................................................. 21

Part B - Asset Management Policy, Strategy and Plan.............................................................. 22

UKRLG Recommendation 3. Asset Management Policy and Strategy ...................................... 22

Our Approach - Asset Management Policy and Strategy ...................................................................... 22

Policy ........................................................................................................................................... 22

Strategy ....................................................................................................................................... 22

Plan ............................................................................................................................................. 22

Asset Management Policy .............................................................................................................. 22

Asset Management Strategy Process .............................................................................................. 24

UKRLG Recommendation 4. Performance Management Framework ....................................... 25

Our Approach - Performance Management Framework ....................................................................... 25

Levels of Service ........................................................................................................................... 25


Developing Our Levels of Service ................................................................................................... 25

Trafford Council HIAMP Levels of Service........................................................................................ 26

UKRLG Recommendation 5. Data Management ........................................................................ 27

Our Approach - Data Management .................................................................................................... 27

Highway Asset Management Systems (HAMS) ................................................................................ 27

Data Management Strategy ........................................................................................................... 27

Asset Maintenance ........................................................................................................................ 27

Pavement Management ................................................................................................................. 28

National Street Gazetteer (NSG) ..................................................................................................... 28

Performance Management ............................................................................................................. 28

Street Works ................................................................................................................................. 28

Street Works Co-ordination ............................................................................................................ 28

Works Management ...................................................................................................................... 29

Customer Service .......................................................................................................................... 29

UKRLG Recommendation 6. Lifecycle Plans .............................................................................. 30

Our Approach - Lifecycle Planning ..................................................................................................... 30

Asset Creation / Inventory Capture ................................................................................................ 31

Routine Maintenance ..................................................................................................................... 31

Renewal or Replacement ............................................................................................................... 31

Decommissioning .......................................................................................................................... 31

Service Life / Performance Level .................................................................................................... 31

Deterioration Modelling ................................................................................................................. 31

Whole Life Costing ........................................................................................................................ 32

Scenario Modelling ........................................................................................................................ 32

UKRLG Recommendation 7. Works Programme ....................................................................... 33

Our Approach - Works Programme .................................................................................................... 33

Reactive Maintenance – Highway Inspection Regime ....................................................................... 33

Technical Survey Strategy ............................................................................................................. 33

Forward Works Programme ........................................................................................................... 34

Optimisation ................................................................................................................................. 34

Key Route Network ....................................................................................................................... 35

TfGM and GMCA Collaborative Working .......................................................................................... 35

Part C – Enablers ....................................................................................................................... 36

UKRLG Recommendation 8. Leadership and Commitment ....................................................... 36

Our Approach - Leadership and Commitment ..................................................................................... 36

UKRLG Recommendation 9. The Case for Asset Management .................................................. 37

Our Approach - The Case for Asset Management ............................................................................... 37

Department for Transport Incentive Fund ....................................................................................... 37

UKRLG Recommendation 10. Competencies and Training ....................................................... 38

Organisational Considerations ........................................................................................................ 38


Strategic ....................................................................................................................................... 38

Tactical ........................................................................................................................................ 38

Operational ................................................................................................................................... 39

Our Approach - Competencies and Training ....................................................................................... 39

Asset Management Competency Table ........................................................................................... 41

UKRLG Recommendation 11. Risk Management ...................................................................... 42

Our Approach - Risk Management ..................................................................................................... 42

Management of Risk ...................................................................................................................... 42

Resilient Network .......................................................................................................................... 44

Critical Assets ............................................................................................................................... 45

Potholes Review ............................................................................................................................ 45

Drainage Assets ............................................................................................................................ 45

UKRLG Recommendation 12. Highway Asset Management Systems (HAMS) .......................... 47

Our Approach - Highway Asset Management Systems (HAMS) ............................................................ 47

Asset Database Confirm ................................................................................................................ 47

Asset Valuation ............................................................................................................................. 48

Horizons ....................................................................................................................................... 48

Map Info ...................................................................................................................................... 48

UKRLG Recommendation 13. Performance Monitoring ............................................................ 49

Our Approach - Performance Monitoring ............................................................................................ 49

UKRLG Recommendation 14. Benchmarking ............................................................................ 51

Our Approach - Benchmarking .......................................................................................................... 51

TfGM and GMCA ........................................................................................................................... 51

National Highways & Transportation Survey .................................................................................... 51

CQC (Cost, Quality, Customer) Benchmarking Club ......................................................................... 51

Department for Transport Submissions ........................................................................................... 51

Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme (HMEP) ..................................................................... 51

Asset Management Standards ........................................................................................................ 51

15. Our Future Actions Moving Forward ................................................................................... 52

Asset Management Group .............................................................................................................. 52

A. Appendix A - Asset Management Plan for Carriageways ............................................... 53

Survey Strategy and Data Collection .................................................................................................. 53

SCANNER Survey .......................................................................................................................... 53

Coarse Visual Inspection (CVI) ....................................................................................................... 53

SCRIM Survey ............................................................................................................................... 53

Maintenance Strategy ....................................................................................................................... 53

Works Programme / Life Cycle Planning ............................................................................................ 54

Material Life Cycle ............................................................................................................................ 54

Hot Rolled Asphalt ........................................................................................................................ 54

Concrete Speed Cushions .............................................................................................................. 54


Reactive Maintenance....................................................................................................................... 54

B. Appendix B - Asset Management Plan for Footways and Cycletracks ........................... 55




Cycleways ....................................................................................................................................... 56

C. Appendix C - Asset Management Plan for Structures .................................................... 57




Structures Future Asset Management ................................................................................................ 59

D. Appendix D - Asset Management Plan for Highway Lighting ......................................... 60

Strategy .......................................................................................................................................... 60



E. Appendix E - Asset Management Plan for Drainage ....................................................... 61

Strategy .......................................................................................................................................... 61


F. Appendix F - Asset Inventory ......................................................................................... 62

G. Appendix G – Communication Strategy ............................................................................. 64


Executive Summary Asset management has been widely accepted by central and local government as a means to deliver a

more efficient and effective approach to management of highway infrastructure assets through longer

term planning, ensuring that standards are defined and achievable for available budgets. It also supports

making the case for funding and better communication with stakeholders, facilitating a greater

understanding of the contribution highway infrastructure assets make to economic growth and the needs

of local communities.

This new Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HIAMP) document for Trafford Council has been

constructed around the most up to date guidance on asset management and follows the UK Roads Liaison

Group (UKRLG) Highways Efficiency Maintenance Programme’s (HMEP) Highway Infrastructure Asset

Management Guidance, which has been developed by the Department for Transport (DfT) in partnership

with the Local Government Association (LGA), on what should be included in a highways asset

management plan. It also recognises the most up to date standards set out in the highway codes of

practice and recent national and international guidance documents on asset management and asset

valuation, as well as taking into account local needs.

By managing our infrastructure asset in accordance with asset management principles, we can better

understand the impact of our investment strategies and help prolong and protect the life of our entire

highway infrastructure. Our approach will seek to make the most efficient use of maintenance funding by

prioritising timely interventions, known as preventative maintenance, arresting the requirement for more

costly repairs. Highway infrastructure requiring more significant structural repair will be renewed over the

longer term, while still being subject to safety inspections.

Trafford’s highway network comprises just over 834 km of carriageway, most of which is in an urban

environment. The unclassified network accounts for around 653 km of the asset which is approximately

78% of the network. The footway and cycleway network is approximately 1,196 km. The asset also

includes, over 11,900 traffic signs and approximately 27,900 lighting columns. Trafford Council is

responsible for 297 highway structures including road bridges, footbridges, underpasses, subways,

culverts, and retaining walls. The highway asset also includes safety fences, drainage, street furniture and

road markings.

Trafford Council has estimated the asset value in accordance with the requirements for Whole of

Government Accounts (WGA). All highway assets have been valued at £1.534 Billion1; this makes them the

most valuable asset owned by Trafford Council. The highway asset provides a universal service to every

single resident young or old across Trafford and is central to a place where business can grow and

prosper.

During the development of the framework for Trafford’s HIAMP, it was decided to link the plan directly to

the 14 recommendations in the UK Roads Liaison Group guidance document as these were seen as the

cornerstone to good asset management practice.

Also key, was the principle of Policy, Strategy & Plan, whereby the HIAMP follows a clear line of sight from

the local and national policies that shape the future direction of the Council, via the strategies we will

employ to meet these polices and what this means for specific assets and their corresponding performance

data.

Policy - Local policies such as Greater Manchester 2040 Transport Strategy, Trafford’s Corporate

Strategy, Service Plans, and Trafford’s highway policies, plus national legislation and policies such

as The Highways Act 1980 and Code of Practice documents such as the Well-Managed Highway

Infrastructure.

1 Based on WGA 16/17 Gross Replacement Cost (not including land value)


Strategy - This is the bulk of the document and demonstrates the steps being taken in Trafford to

meet the 14 recommendations in the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Guidance

Document. This HIAMP is structured so that the recommendations are the Chapter headings, with

an extract from the guidance document, followed by Our Approach which outlines what we are

doing to meet them.

Plan – Appendix A-E contain the Asset Management Plans for specific assets namely: Carriageways,

Footways, Structures, Highway Lighting and Drainage. These final chapters show in greater detail

how we will manage these assets to not only meet the 14 recommendations in the UKRLG HMEP

guidance but also to make best use of the resources available to provide a safe and efficient

working highway network for those who travel within or through Trafford.


Introduction

As time goes by roads that are currently in good condition will deteriorate, just like any physical asset such

as a house or a vehicle. To keep on top of the deterioration of our asset we must invest continually in

maintenance. Local authorities are unlikely to ever be in the position where there is enough money to

maintain every road that needs work in a single year, it is essential therefore to make the best use of the

available resources to get the best investment results for our customers.

In a climate where budgets and resources are tightening, Trafford is facing significant challenges in

deciding how to manage its assets effectively.

Trafford Council has been applying the principles of asset management for some time; since 2001/02,

which is evidenced within the 2007 Transport Asset Management Plan (TAMP), updated in 2012 and

subsequently 2015 following the review by Trafford Council to outsource asset management activities to

Amey through the One Trafford Partnership.

Success of Trafford Council’s Previous Asset Management Approach and TAMP

The asset management approach in the TAMP highlighted the size and value of the Trafford transport

asset to elected members, other Council officers and residents. It determined the cost per year to stop

further deterioration of the carriageway asset known as the ‘steady state’ cost, currently determined as

£4.31M, and the cost to improve the network over and above the steady state cost. It also contained an

improvement action plan to support continuous improvement in the management of Trafford’s highways

asset.

NI 06/7 07/8 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 15/16 16/17

130-1 11 9 8 6 7 9 6 8 5 4 6

130-2 13 8 7 5 5 8 5 7 5 4 5

224b 11 9 7 9 9 7 7 8 7 6 5

130-1 - % of Trafford’s A Class roads requiring maintenance within a year, 130-2 -% of Trafford’s B & C Class roads requiring

maintenance within a year, BV224b – % length of Trafford’s Unclassified roads requiring maintenance within a year

Trafford’s Asset Management Approach in the new HIAMP 2017

Although asset management principles have been adopted in Trafford, years of underinvestment

nationally, an increase in climatic impact, coupled with the importance of maintaining our network in a safe

and serviceable condition has led to a very high maintenance backlog. Trafford has therefore reviewed the

current asset management principles and identified a required change in approach to asset management

where expenditure should be targeted based on limited budget, asset management principles and sound

data, engineering analysis; hence this new HIAMP. It is apparent that without an increase in annual

funding on the highway network to the ‘steady state’ cost, currently £4.31M, the network carriageway

condition will continue to deteriorate. The new approach in the HIAMP will however better target the

limited resources available to maximum effect and build in resilience for the future network condition.

We will introduce and implement an extended indicative 5 Year Capital Maintenance Programme, with a

view to further extending that programme as we start to develop a more comprehensive and refined

picture of our asset condition. In considering the whole lifecycle of an asset we will use a process known

as ‘Deterioration Modelling’ to predict the relative condition of the highway network over the coming years

and this will help us to decide where we should be channelling resources at the optimum time to treat our

roads in the most cost-effective way, providing the greatest benefit. In considering the whole lifecycle of

the highway asset and predicted future condition, a more efficient longer term works programme can now

be developed to better balance the needs of ‘worst-first’ with a greater emphasis on preventative


maintenance treatments. This approach can reduce the demands of a ‘worst-first’ programme over time.

See a typical highway asset deterioration curve below which shows the benefits of a preventative approach

against the higher cost of a worst first approach.

Typical highway asset lifecycle deterioration curve

A ‘worst first’ approach – maintenance treatments in ‘RED’ condition are ten times the cost of treatment in

‘AMBER’ condition where preventative treatments can be carried out.

To make the best use of available maintenance funding on a deteriorating network, lower cost

preventative maintenance treatments targeting highway assets in ‘amber’ condition will be prioritised.

Prioritising preventative maintenance treatments for assets in amber condition will preserve highway

infrastructure condition and arrest further deterioration leading to more costly repairs. Assets in ‘red’

condition will be renewed over the longer term, while still being subject to safety inspections.

A key question is how we will decide which roads should have preventative maintenance treatment and

which we need to undertake major resurfacing works on. It’s a matter of picking the right point on the

‘Deterioration Curve’, the right treatment at the right time. Whilst the ‘rolling programme’ for years two to

five remains ‘indicative’, we will still be confirming the programme for year one, annually.

The new HIAMP approach will be communicated clearly and effectively through appropriate channels to

ensure engagement at a strategic level. Asset Management following lifecycle planning principles and

methodology will only be successful if key decision makers are on board and can visualise the long-term

benefits and savings to be made from this approach, based upon sound engineering and accurate costing.

Whilst the process focuses on road condition the same process holds true for all asset types including

footways, street lighting, structures, drainage, etc.

Implementation

The implementation of asset management is a more challenging and long term task than just the

production of the plan. Implementation will require continued focus on:

People – ensuring that the people tasked with implementing and further developing the plan have the

time, resources and skills to do so.

Data – ensuring that data management becomes an integral part of the relevant business processes.

Roads in good repair ‘GREEN’

Poor condition roads – ‘RED’ GREEN

Roads some deterioration ‘AMBER’

£100/m2 – approximate cost of maintenance treatment

£10/m2 – approximate cost of a preventative maintenance treatment

Time

Co

nd

itio

n


Processes – changing existing business processes (where necessary) to enable asset management

information to influence key decisions about funding.

Systems – most highway systems are not complete asset management systems. Over time existing

systems need to be developed into decision support tools.

An asset management culture, with appropriate behaviours, will only be successful by a consistent

approach across Trafford Council for the long-term management of the highway network. Behaviour of

teams and individuals need to be aligned to common objectives rather than to individual priorities that may

encourage short term actions that will not meet the longer-term vision and strategy.

An asset management culture should avoid conflicting priorities and messages, lack of understanding, or

lack of a collaborative approach, all of which can lead to inefficient and ineffective working.

Adoption of a preventative approach to maintenance is an example of where a common culture in

delivering asset management is important. There may be a less immediate gain in terms of responding to

stakeholder pressure and satisfaction compared to repair of some obvious defects, but timely intervention

is known to preserve the asset, to be good value for money, and is supported. If a common approach to

asset management is not shared, preventative work may be delayed or omitted in favour of more

apparently pressing activities, deterioration occurs, and higher long term costs result.

This HIAMP will deliver better value for money through adoption of a sensible and forward thinking

maintenance plan. Our customers will have greater visibility as to the relative status of their roads and

we’ll aim to deliver more on the ground and help to meet our corporate and strategic transport objectives

by doing so.

It is the delivery of agreed improvement actions, changes in practice and process, a desire to achieve

continuous improvement and a commitment at all levels that will ensure that Trafford Council can prove

that it is committed to a total asset management approach and achieving best value for the people of

Trafford.

Using this HIAMP as an overarching document and basing all decisions on an asset management approach

will ensure that the Plan will become a live and working document and encourage an asset

management approach to become embedded as normal practice.


Background

Trafford Council is the Highway Authority responsible for the highway network in Trafford, including the

Key Route Network (KRN). Since devolution however, Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) have the

strategic management responsibilities for the KRN2. TFGM also carry out a highway maintenance function

for Trafford and all the Greater Manchester authorities; for traffic signals and the associated urban traffic

control systems on the network together with the traffic control centre. It is essential that the safety,

availability and long-term integrity of the assets that make up the publicly maintainable highway is well

managed.

The demand for a more efficient approach to the management of highway infrastructure assets has come

to prominence in the light of the fiscal challenges faced by both by central and local government as well as

the devolved administrations. Recent developments include:

The Incentive Fund The purpose of the incentive funding is to promote the adoption of good

practice across all local authorities to ensure value for money.

Time has been given to allow highway authorities to adopt efficiency measures, to gain buy-in

from their senior leaders and to make the necessary transformational changes to the full adoption

of ‘Asset Management Principles’.

Local highway authorities is categorised based upon where they are on the efficiency curve:

Band 1: Early stage authority - Has a basic understanding of key areas and is in the

process of taking it forward.

Band 2: Mid stage authority - Can demonstrate that outputs have been produced that

support the implementation of key areas that will lead towards improvement.

Band 3: Final stage authority - Can demonstrate that outcomes have been achieved in

key areas as part of a continuous improvement process.

A local authority's category is based on the responses to a self-assessment exercise on efficiency.

The self-assessment questionnaire has 22 questions in total, divided into five categories:

▪ Asset Management

▪ Resilience

▪ Customer

▪ Benchmarking & Efficiency

▪ Operational Delivery

A local authority's Band will be based on its score in this self-assessment questionnaire:

▪ Band 1: Does not reach Level 2 or Level 3 in at least 15 of the 22 questions.

▪ Band 2: Must reach Level 2 or Level 3 in at least 15 of the 22 questions.

▪ Band 3: Must reach Level 3 in at least 18 of the 22 questions.

The table below shows the part of the incentive funding allocation which will be awarded to

authorities in Bands 1, 2 and 3 each year. Only authorities who have Band 3 will be awarded

100% of the available funding from 2017 onwards.

Year 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21

Band 1 100% 90% 60% 30% 10% 0%

Band 2 100% 100% 90% 70% 50% 30%

Band 3 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

2 Transport policies that affect the ten districts of Greater Manchester are set by the new Greater Manchester Combined Authority

and its Transport for Greater Manchester Committee. TfGM is the delivery arm for the elected body, responsible for investing in improving transport services and facilities.


The CIPFA Code for Transport Infrastructure Assets provides advice on how asset management

should be implemented for local highway authorities to meet Whole of Government Accounts

requirements.

The Audit Commission Report Going the Distance recommends that local highway authorities in

England adopt the principles of asset management when making investment decisions in order to

optimise the use of available resources.

The Potholes Review, Prevention and a Better Cure found that asset management has not been

embraced consistently across all authorities in England although it is clearly understood that a

more preventative approach to maintenance and long term planning is likely to reduce the

occurrence of potholes.

Well-managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice 2016. This document replaces Well-

maintained Highways, Management of Highway Structures and Well-lit Highways. Production has

been overseen by the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG) and its Roads, Bridges and Lighting

Boards. The Code is designed to promote the adoption of an integrated asset management

approach to highway infrastructure based on the establishment of local levels of service through

risk-based assessment.

ISO 55000 Asset Management suite of documents provides a common platform and reference

point for asset management internationally, across all sectors and industries, and is aimed at all

assets, including those in public and private ownership.

These developments provide a greater focus on asset management. Although the principles of asset

management have been generally accepted, highway authorities throughout the UK have adopted a wide-

ranging approach to its implementation. Where asset management has been successfully adopted,

demonstration of leadership and commitment from senior decision makers in supporting an asset

management approach has been fundamental.

In May 2013, the ‘Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Guidance’ Document was published by the

UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG). This set out the 14 recommendations that are presented as the

minimum requirement to achieve a reasonable level of benefits from asset management. Below is a

summary of the recommendations;

UKRLG HMEP Summary of the Recommendations

1. Asset Management Framework- An Asset Management Framework should be developed and

endorsed by senior decision makers. All activities outlined in the Framework should be

documented.

2. Communications - Relevant information associated with asset management should be actively

communicated through engagement with relevant stakeholders in setting requirements, making

decisions and reporting performance.

3. Asset Management Policy and Strategy - An asset management policy and a strategy should

be developed and published. These should align with the corporate vision and demonstrate the

contribution asset management makes towards achieving this vision.

4. Performance Management Framework - A performance management framework should be

developed that is clear and accessible to stakeholders as appropriate and supports the asset

management strategy.

5. Asset Data Management - The quality, currency, appropriateness and completeness of all data

supporting asset management should be regularly reviewed. An asset register should be

maintained that stores, manages and reports all relevant asset data.

6. Lifecycle Plans - Lifecycle planning principles should be used to review the level of funding,

support investment decisions and substantiate the need for appropriate and sustainable long term

investment.


7. Works Programme - A prioritised forward works programme for a rolling period of three to five

years should be developed and updated regularly.

8. Leadership and Commitment - Senior decision makers should demonstrate leadership and

commitment to enable the implementation of asset management.

9. Making the Case for Asset Management - The case for implementing the Asset Management

Framework should be made by clearly explaining the funding required and the wider benefits to be

achieved.

10. Competencies and Training - The appropriate competency required for asset management

should be identified, and training should be provided where necessary.

11. Risk management - The management of current and future risks associated with assets should

be embedded within the approach to asset management. Strategic, tactical and operational risks

should be included as should appropriate mitigation measures.

12. Asset Management Systems - Asset management systems should be sustainable and able to

support the information required to enable asset management. Systems should be accessible to

relevant staff and, where appropriate, support the provision of information for stakeholders.

13. Performance Monitoring - The performance of the Asset Management Framework should be

monitored and reported. It should be reviewed regularly by senior decision makers and when

appropriate, improvement actions should be taken.

14. Benchmarking - Local and national benchmarking should be used to compare performance of

the Asset Management Framework and to share information that supports continuous

improvement.

This HIAMP will directly link to the 14 recommendations in the UKRLG guidance document as these were

seen as the cornerstone to good asset management practice.

Also key, was the principle of an asset management Policy, Strategy & Plan, whereby the HIAMP

follows a clear line of sight from the local and national policies that shape the future direction of Trafford

Council, via the strategies we will employ to meet these polices and what this means for specific assets

and their corresponding performance data.

Policy - Local policies such as Greater Manchester 2040 Transport Strategy, Trafford’s Corporate

Strategy, Service Plans, and Trafford’s highway policies, plus national legislation and policies such

as The Highways Act 1980 and Code of Practice documents such as the Well-managed Highway

Infrastructure.

Strategy - This is the bulk of the document and demonstrates the steps being taken in Trafford

Council to meet the 14 recommendations in the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management

Guidance Document produced by the UK Roads Liaison Group. This HIAMP is structured so that

the recommendations reflect the UKRLG HMEP Chapter headings followed by Our Approach which

outlines what we are doing to meet them.

Plan – Separate Appendices for Asset Management Plans for specific assets namely: Carriageways,

Footways, Structures, Highway Lighting and Drainage are also included. These final chapters show

in greater detail how we will manage these assets to not only meet the 14 recommendations in

the UKRLG HMEP guidance but also to make best use of the resources available to provide a safe

and efficient working highway network for those who travel within or through Trafford.


Part A – Asset Management Context Part A of this HIAMP sets the context for Trafford Council highway infrastructure asset management by

describing the structure and the environment within which the highways service is delivered.

Delivering highway infrastructure asset management is not a stand-alone activity. It is linked with the

Trafford Council policies and service delivery. It supports the interface with all stakeholders, including

elected members, road users, the public and local communities.

UKRLG Recommendation 1. Asset Management Framework

An Asset Management Framework comprises the activities and processes that are necessary to develop,

document, implement and continually improve asset management. These activities and the approach to

their delivery should be clearly documented and accessible to relevant stakeholders.

Our Approach – Asset Management Framework

The table below shows the communication links required to support Asset Management between the policy

makers, planners, enablers and deliverers of Asset Management within Trafford Council set in the local and

national context.

Asset Management Framework


The Framework is presented in three parts:

1. Context – Describes the context for highway infrastructure asset management, the organisation

and the environment within which the local highway service is delivered, and is covered in Part A

of the HIAMP.

2. Asset Management Planning – Describes the key activities and processes for asset

management planning and shows how these are be applied to Trafford Council highway

infrastructure assets, as covered in Part B of the HIAMP.

3. Asset Management Enablers – Describes the enablers that support the implementation of the

Asset Management Framework and is covered in Part C of the HIAMP.

Legal, Policy and Codes

The direction of Trafford’s highway asset management strategy is determined by a number of factors –

national codes of practice / policies, legal and financial parameters. Action Plan Item 1.1.

The Highways Act 1980 places duties upon and bestows powers to Trafford as the local Highway

Authority. Chief among these is our duty to maintain the highway in a safe and serviceable condition.

National Transport Policy sets targets for local authority achievement and we will continue to keep

abreast of these via direct communication with the Department for Transport and updates.

We are also driven by policies in The Greater Manchester 2040 Transport Strategy, the key

transport policy document for the conurbation prepared jointly by all 10 Greater Manchester Authorities

and Transport for Greater Manchester. The 2040 Transport Strategy sets out the collective long-term

commitment of the 10 authorities to the development of a sustainable, environmentally sensitive,

integrated transport system for the conurbation and an initial 5 year programme of construction projects

to begin to put this commitment into effect, with the Vision being;

World Class connections that support long-term, sustainable economic growth and

access to opportunity for all.

The Vision for Trafford is:

Trafford is a place where our residents achieve their aspirations, and our

communities are thriving.

The Corporate Strategy for all services can be found within Trafford’s Corporate Strategy on the website

- http://www.trafford.gov.uk/

Trafford Council recognises that transport systems play a huge part in facilitating a high quality of life by

meeting the needs of the individual whilst remaining responsive to the changing needs of business.

Well-managed Highway Infrastructure published in October 2016. This document is the first edition

of ‘Well-managed Highway Infrastructure’. It replaces Well-maintained Highways, Management of Highway

Structures and Well-lit Highways. It provides local authorities with guidance on highways management in

an ever-changing environment, creating a strong foundation for a positive and lasting maintenance policy.

Adoption of the recommendations in this code (together with the UKRLG HMEP Recommendations)

will help the delivery of effective Asset Management.

Performance expectations are placed upon our highway network by all stakeholders which include the

travelling public, businesses and the emergency services that rely on its efficiency and availability to carry

out their own travel requirements.

http://www.trafford.gov.uk/


Our Approach – Asset Management Planning

Trafford will develop an investment strategy for highway infrastructure maintenance which is led by the

principles of Asset Management. This will take the form of lifecycle planning for all our assets based upon

historical data, current and future usage and design specifications, aligned to anticipated index-linked cost

estimates to produce a long term strategic approach.

Trafford will demonstrate through this document and supporting processes and software what the historic,

current and future demand on our highway network is likely to be, set out levels of service and

performance targets and how these will be measured.

We will continue to expand our asset register to include as much information as possible, both physical

and non-physical to ensure we have a future-proof database. This will involve, as it does now, technical

surveys and drawing on data in hard copy formats and transferring it into digital spatial data.

Other data, such as customer enquiries, condition survey information and maintenance records will also be

held within our Highway Asset Management Systems and these are gathered by either call centre staff,

Highway Inspectors, external survey suppliers or directly via Trafford’s Council public website and social

media.

This evolution will continue and intensify in the coming years as we put together an indicative 5 year

works programme based upon predicting the deterioration rates of numerous assets and carrying out the

right treatment at the right time to ensure maximum benefit for minimum outlay.

Our Approach – Asset Management Enablers

The principles of Asset Management require buy-in at the highest levels within Trafford in order for them

to be effectively applied. Securing this buy-in from senior decision makers and elected members will pay

dividends in the long term as the purpose, objectives and responsibilities for the implementation and

delivery of asset management will need to be clearly established and supported.

We will ensure the systems and processes we employ in Asset Management are, and will remain through

targeted development and investment, fit for purpose both now and in the future. The functionality,

management, cost and procurement of such systems will fall within existing Trafford, National and

European frameworks and we will ensure full accreditation and calibration is maintained for data validity

and auditing purposes.

We are confident that Trafford Council is building upon a solid foundation and much of the development

work already done in recent years has been based upon Asset Management principles but, we cannot not

sit back as future funding and the safety and usability of our highway network will depend upon this work

continuing.

Our Approach - Delivery

One Trafford

Amey and Trafford Council are working in partnership, “One Trafford” to deliver environmental and

infrastructure services for Trafford.

Contracting these services will help to reduce costs whilst maintaining high-quality and value-for-money

services to residents and businesses. The business model also allows for greater sustainability and the

potential for growth.

With an overarching asset management framework, this contract will aim to produce a leaner delivery

model, efficient and optimised programmes of work and introduce, innovative and new technologies across

the services to deliver a more efficient approach for the Council and the residents of Trafford.


This leaner delivery model will continue to be developed and will evolve as required to meet the

maintenance demands of a dynamic highway network. Action Plan Item 1.2.

We will work to create an indicative rolling five-year capital maintenance programme from which Year 1

will be extensively developed and presented to Trafford’s Members for approval as part of an annual cycle.

This rolling programme will remain a live entity and will evolve dependent upon external factors such as

utility works, other departmental highway works and changes to funding.

This will allow our operational colleagues to feed into the process at an even earlier stage than is currently

the case, plus it allows for better planning of works on the ground and organising the supply chain of

services and materials.


UKRLG Recommendation 2. Communication

Relevant information associated with asset management should be actively communicated through

engagement with relevant stakeholders in setting requirements, making decisions and reporting

performance.

Our Approach - Communication

A Communications Strategy is a way of describing how the asset management approach is actively

communicated through engagement with relevant stakeholders in setting requirements, making decisions

and reporting performance. Trafford’s Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Communication Strategy

is developed and included in Appendix G of this HIAMP.

In keeping with asset management philosophy, user and community involvement will be a high priority

within and for Trafford Council.

Stakeholders

People, groups of people, or organisations that can affect or be affected by the policies and actions of

Trafford Council are all stakeholders of the highway network. Managing stakeholder expectations and

addressing their needs is a key aspect of asset management.

In the context of the highway service, stakeholders are many and diverse and will be considered in

different ways. They are likely to include:

• Government - through HM Treasury, DfT and other Departments, that have an interest through

legislation, provision of funding.

• Trafford locally elected members.

• Trafford residents.

• Trafford businesses.

• Representative groups e.g. Parish Councils, the disabled groups.

• Other interest groups e.g. cycling, walking, conservation, equestrian groups etc.

• Hard to reach or involve groups such as young people, the disadvantaged and elderly.

• Emergency services.

• Utility services.

• Neighbouring authorities and TfGM (traffic signals, passenger transport, cycling), Taxi Trade etc.

• Highways England

Effective engagement with stakeholders is a key in managing expectations and therefore satisfaction with

Trafford Council services. Stakeholders need to be engaged at various stages in the asset management

process so that they can appreciate the challenges and issues that Trafford Council faces. People cannot

be expected to understand or accept the level of service provided if they have not been involved in its

development or it is not published and transparent.

We will engage with and involve key stakeholder groups such as local communities, local businesses and

services; as per the list above, in a variety of different ways to achieve effective stakeholder engagement.

Action Plan Item 2.1.


Elected Members

We will ensure clear and accurate information is made available to help with the decision-making process

and to demonstrate the cost benefits of lifecycle planning and an Asset Management approach.

Trafford is developing an indicative, rolling multi-year works programme. This programme effectively

remains live and an annual ‘snapshot’ of this programme will be passed to Trafford Council for

consideration and approval. The benefit of an ‘organic’ rolling programme means all parties will be able to

analyse and feed into this programme, such that views can be considered where appropriate, at an earlier

stage than was previously possible.

We will aim to produce annual reports to elected members for consideration on predicted network

condition based upon anticipated funding availability. This is a ‘scenario’ based method whereby we can

demonstrate, using sound engineering data, what the future condition of Trafford’s network will be based

upon certain budget levels plus, we will be able to demonstrate the level of funding required to achieve

performance targets, from steady-state to measured improvement. Action Plan Item 2.2.

Public

We aim to publish the 5 Year Maintenance Programme on our public website so that all stakeholders can

see an indication of future maintenance plans. We anticipate this will help those who do not share detailed

engineering knowledge to be able to see the decisions we are making and the reasons for them, and no

stakeholders are excluded from the process. Action Plan Item 2.3.

Trafford’s Council public website is regularly reviewed to make the user experience more beneficial. This

will cover all areas of service including highways and we are working with our web developers to ensure

highway maintenance is properly represented in these changes. Action Plan Item 2.4.

Along with our maintenance activities, we plan to publish information on the work we are doing with

regard to funding bids, policies and this Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan to provide

openness to our customers. Action Plan Item 2.5.

We will also use customer feedback to inform maintenance programmes and will publish details of the

measures taken to respond to feedback and to publish the feedback on service delivery performance on

our website. Action Plan Item 2.6.

With the current proliferation of smart phones and the rise of social media, we are developing the

capability for stakeholders to interact with the local authority on highway related matters, and other

services using a variety of platforms. Action Plan Item 2.7.

We will ensure engagement with stakeholders is included as a primary element when reviewing a revised

highway classification hierarchy for the possible inclusion of a ‘D’ Class network. Action Plan Item 2.8.

A highway classification hierarchy review is to assess a revised carriageway hierarchy and corresponding

inspection frequency, to facilitate the review of levels of service and the corresponding prioritisation of

funding in a manner deemed more appropriate for Trafford within an environment of reduced government

funding.

National Highways & Transportation Survey (NHT)

In 2016 Trafford contributed to the annual NHT Survey for the purposes of both benchmarking alongside

similar authorities and for seeking stakeholder feedback on our services. The feedback is very informative

for seeking stakeholder priorities and for gauging the level of stakeholder satisfaction with our services.

We will continue this survey going forward. Action Plan Item 2.9.

We will also review the performance of customer satisfaction surveys and identify potential for

improvement with our action plan. Action Plan Item 2.10.


Asset Valuation

This information is provided to the Department for Transport on an annual basis and provides both the

Gross Replacement Cost of the authority’s assets (what it would cost to rebuild from scratch) and the

Depreciated Replacement Cost (what it would cost to return our assets to new from their current

condition).

This data not only gives the government a detailed overview of the country as a whole but it is also a

useful benchmarking measure between ourselves and neighbouring or similar sized authorities. Action Plan

Item 2.11.


Part A – Asset Management Policy, Strategy and Plan Part B explains the key activities for asset management planning and how these are applied to Trafford

Council. It shows the contents of asset management policy and strategy, explains Trafford’s approach to

performance management, asset data, and provides information on lifecycle planning and work

programming.

UKRLG Recommendation 3. Asset Management Policy and Strategy

An asset management policy and a strategy should be developed and published. These should align with the corporate vision and demonstrate the contribution asset management makes towards achieving this vision.

The asset management policy sets out the commitment by senior decision makers to highway

infrastructure asset management. The asset management strategy sets out the long term objectives for

the highway asset and how they are met, including statutory obligations, stakeholder needs and the

overall performance of highway infrastructure within the context of any constraints such as funding.

Our Approach - Asset Management Policy and Strategy

This Trafford’s HIAMP is set around the clear principles of Policy, Strategy & Plan, whereby the HIAMP

follows a clear line of sight from the existing local and national policies that shape the future direction of

Trafford, via the strategies we will employ to meet these polices and what this means for specific assets

and their corresponding performance data.

Policy

Trafford Council Asset Management Policy is a high-level document which establishes the Council’s

commitment to Highway Infrastructure Asset Management and demonstrates how this approach aligns

with the Council Plan. The Policy is a stand-alone document and will be published alongside this strategy

on the Council’s website but is also included within this HIAMP on the following page.

Strategy

This actual document is the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Strategy for Trafford. In line with

the authority’s Asset Management Policy and closely tied to the recommendations in the UKRLG HMEP

guidance document (2013) it shows the steps we will take to effectively manage our highway assets in the

coming years. Action Plan Item 3.1.

Plan

The Appendices of this document contain Trafford’s Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plans for

specific Highway Asset categories. This is where we set out our performance targets and the methods we

will employ to achieve them. Action Plan Item 3.2.


Trafford Council

Policy for Highways Asset Management

Trafford Council is committed to adopting an asset management approach for the highway network in

order to support the Council’s vision for:

Trafford is a place where our residents achieve their aspirations, and

our communities are thriving.

Together with Positive Environmental Impact (Priority Outcome PE4) Better maintained

highways, Trafford Council recognises that transport systems play a huge part in facilitating a high

quality of life by meeting the needs of the individual whilst remaining responsive to the changing needs of

business.

In order for all Trafford’s people and communities to enjoy the highest quality of life in a safe, clean,

attractive, healthy and sustainable environment Trafford Council’s Asset Management Policy will seek to:

Maintain roads in a safe and serviceable condition. To provide a safe, well managed,

maintained and more resilient highway network for all who use it. In order to deliver this we will

continue to understand our community’s needs, promote levels of service and maintenance

priorities for our highways.

Deliver a road and transport infrastructure that seeks to meet the needs of Trafford’s

residents, visitors and businesses. To provide long term maintenance planning to help with

co-ordination of expenditure, resources and third party network access whilst being flexible

enough to respond to dynamic changes in the needs of businesses and the local economy.

To provide our road users with a reasonable level of confidence that their journeys on the

highway will be predictable and timely. To efficiently manage the maintenance of highway

infrastructure to reduce disruption to the network where possible.

To ensure that the highway network is available and accessible, as far as possible. To

efficiently maintain the highway infrastructure asset to meet the needs of the travelling public

where possible.

To progressively reduce the environmental impact of the highway asset for the benefit of

all our road users. To review materials and maintenance techniques used in managing the

highway infrastructure asset reducing its environmental impact for improved sustainability.

Our adoption of an asset management approach will take a long-term view in making informed

maintenance and investment decisions.

Trafford Council is committed to the continued implementation of Asset Management principles in the

maintenance of Trafford’s highway network, delivering the greatest amount of community and business

benefit with the funds available. These principles are directly linked to the 14 recommendations in the

Highway Maintenance Efficiency Programme (HMEP) and promoted by the DfT in its Capital Maintenance

Funding Programme 2015 - 2021.

Asset Management Policy


Asset Management Strategy Process

Our Asset Management Process is set out in the diagram below. This approach will also be utilised by

Trafford when undertaking the completion of lifecycle plans for individual assets.


UKRLG Recommendation 4. Performance Management Framework

A performance management framework should be developed that is clear and accessible to stakeholders

as appropriate and supports the asset management strategy.

The levels of service, performance

measures and targets will form the

performance management framework.

Once performance measures are

developed and linked with levels of

service, the levels of service and

individual measures can be banded and

described in qualitative terms such as

excellent / good / fair / poor. Alternative

bandings can be adopted to align with

the overall approach to performance

management in the authority. This

allows performance to be described in a

way that is easily understood by all

stakeholders.

Our Approach - Performance Management Framework

Levels of Service

Levels of service refer to a measure of the service quality achieved from highways assets. The level of

service reflects the way our service is delivered and how it is perceived by our customers. Levels of service

include the performance and condition of the asset itself, the quality of the service that the asset provides

and the performance of Trafford Council in delivering that service.

Levels of service are broad statements that describe the performance of highway infrastructure assets in

terms that our stakeholders can understand. They will relate to outcomes and cover key aspects of asset

performance such as safety, serviceability and sustainability. They will consider the performance of

the whole network rather than that of individual assets.

Developing Our Levels of Service

Our Levels of Service correspond with the broad Objectives, Strategy and Values of:

The TfGM Transport Vision 2040, a document for the conurbation prepared jointly by all 10 Greater

Manchester district Councils and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority.

Trafford’s Corporate Strategy

Trafford’s Values, which are:

▪ Engaging the people of Trafford

▪ Always improving

▪ Leading the way

▪ Acting with integrity

▪ Valuing our people

▪ Using time and money wisely

The people of Trafford. The National Highways & Transport Public survey (NHT) undertaken in

Trafford for the first time in 2016, reveals public priorities for Highways and Transport. Priorities

were awarded a percentage value for ‘importance’. The top 6 priorities out of 12 options given the


greatest ‘% importance’ were: Safer Roads 95.9%, Highway Condition 95.7%, Pavements 93.3%, Street Lighting 89.1% and Reducing Traffic 87.3% and Traffic Pollution 86.1%.

Trafford Council HIAMP Levels of Service

They are:

Maintain roads in a safe and serviceable condition.

Deliver a road and transport infrastructure that seeks to meet the needs of Trafford’s residents, visitors and businesses

To provide our road users with a reasonable level of confidence that their journeys on the highway will be predictable and timely

To ensure that the highway network is available and accessible, as far as possible

To progressively reduce the environmental impact of the highway asset for the benefit of all our road users

Each level of service is supported by a framework of performance measures; Performance and Customer Care Indicators (PI’s & CCPI’s) which are reported to senior management for regular review. These enable both individual aspects of performance to be measured as well as the overall level of service. These performance measures include both engineering and non-engineering considerations and form the HIAMP’s supporting Performance Management Framework. Action Plan Item 4.1.

This performance approach results in a more holistic approach to performance as Trafford Council can monitor, record and report delivery of the highway service, the asset management strategy, levels of service and our overall approach to asset management linking strategy, corporate vision and objectives. Action Plan Item 4.2.


UKRLG Recommendation 5. Data Management

The quality, currency, appropriateness and completeness of all data supporting asset management should

be regularly reviewed. An asset register should be maintained that stores, manages and reports all

relevant asset data.

Our Approach - Data Management

Asset data describes what highway infrastructure assets an authority

has, where they are and how they perform. It is used to support the

requirements of the asset management strategy and in

determination of the approach to deliver the strategy, including

performance management, lifecycle planning, forward programming

and risk management.

Highway Asset Management Systems (HAMS)

One Trafford is developing its use of the Confirm system in

conjunction with Amey Asset Manager – Horizons as its main

Highway Asset Management Systems providing a robust tool for

holding and reporting on Asset Data. Confirm is a modular piece of

software which allows us to develop the system to our requirements.

Amey Asset Manager – Horizons provides a visualised pavement management system for visual display of

carriageway condition and provides carriageway lifecycle scenarios with deterioration modelling to help

determine future investment priorities. (UKRLG Recommendation 6 – pg. 27)

Data Management Strategy

The highway network is surveyed routinely using a variety of different methods. Asset data is collected and

verified through these methods and new details are identified as part of an on-going process. For new

asset sets that have not previously been collated a specific means of surveying is identified and

implemented accordingly. This method allows the quality and integrity of the data to be regularly reviewed

and any inaccuracies amended ensuring the overall data quality. This data is further reviewed by

maintenance operations that identify assets changes at a component level which are not necessarily easily

seen.

Trafford Council will review and develop its asset data in line with the recommendations of the Code of

Practice on Transport Infrastructure Assets which adopts a three-layer approach for selecting and

grouping assets. This approach is the one currently recommended for authorities undertaking their returns

for Whole of Government Accounts. Action Plan Item 5.1.

Asset Maintenance

One Trafford uses Confirm to manage our highway inspection regime. We have a whole area access

approach which provides flexibility, allowing Inspectors to work outside of their defined areas when the

need arises. Inspections are carried out on a monthly, three-monthly, six-monthly or annual basis

dependent upon the hierarchy of our asset network, in accordance with the current Highway Inspection

Manual; which is in review and will be further developed in accordance with National Guidelines. Action

Plan Item 5.2.

The current inspection regime is made up of three key elements:

Inspection Route: This refers to monthly and three-monthly inspections, generally on classified

roads and unclassified distributer roads. These are designed as a single inspection route along a

single numbered road.


Inspection Area: This is reserved for all annual inspections and bi-annual link footway inspections.

They are worked out to provide as even a distribution of workload as is feasible.

Enquiry Area: These are specific geographical areas where enquiries such as those from the general

public either via Customer Services or the website, are allocated to particular Inspectors or other

relevant action officers. In general, the Enquiry Areas broadly match the Inspection Areas but

some sections of an Inspection route may be in different enquiry areas.

Inspections are managed through Confirm and defects and ordered works are maintained from creation to

closure.

Pavement Management

Trafford’s Technical Survey Strategy is detailed in Appendix A. The highways asset condition data;

collected through highways SCANNER and Course Visual Inspection, is updated annually (including any

inventory updates) and loaded onto Horizons. Horizons has a facility to visualise highway condition along a

road and can combine other data sets to help determine most appropriate planned maintenance approach

for Trafford. It can also plot future condition scenarios of the highway taking into account future budgets

or the desired service levels.

National Street Gazetteer (NSG)

The Street Gazetteer module holds a complete record of the network in Trafford, from the Unique Street

Reference Number (USRN) and naming convention, through to links with the hierarchy, which is then used

to populate and update the network within the Horizon software.

Performance Management

Performance Management data can be reported via the use of the reporting tools contained in Confirm and

Horizons. To assist this, bespoke dashboards will be created to monitor performance through the

interrogation and display of live data. All the data stored in Confirm and Horizons will be reported on and

hence this results in a very robust performance management tool. This supports Trafford Council’s

approach to Performance Management through the provision and reporting of performance data for

national and local indicators. Action Plan Item 5.3.

Trafford Council have a funding strategy in place for inventory collection for data gaps which had been

initially identified. However, in reviewing the asset management Performance Management Framework, we

will review the information strategy for the collection of data to support the performance management

framework. Action Plan Item 5.4.

Street Works

The Street Works module of Symology, which provides comprehensive functionality for both service

utilities, Trafford Council maintenance and improvement works and traffic managers is utilised within

Trafford. Works are initiated and progressed through a programmed life cycle which accommodates the

functions of permission and co-ordination, aimed at minimising traffic disruption. This includes validation to

conform to established noticing or permit rules.

Electronic communication of information between participants, map-based representation of work, and

public accessibility services via the internet are all provided.

Street Works Co-ordination

To work in a more holistic and efficient manner Trafford will continue to conduct street works co-

ordination meetings in line with the New Roads and Street Works Act Section 59 which is for the street

authority to co-ordinate works in the street with the active co-operation of all parties concerned.

Forward planning information on long-term programmes from all works promoters will help Trafford to co-

ordinate works. It will also help works promoters to identify opportunities for joint working and to co-


ordinate the timing of resurfacing. This might include mains replacement programmes or reconstruction of

main roads, which will be planned several years ahead.

The meetings will be concerned primarily with direct co-ordination of individual schemes and dissemination

of information. The meetings will be held quarterly or more frequently if the need arises, but a discussion

should always take place whenever proposed major works are likely to conflict with other activities,

especially in a street or streets known to be prone to congestion. These meetings will cover:

• specific major works with, wherever possible, fully-costed and assessed alternative routes for

works proposals and a full assessment of the preferred route;

• medium-term and annual works programmes for all works promoters, submitted at least 21 days

before the meeting, and showing a six month rolling programme of work. This will allow Trafford

to compile a co-ordinated schedule of works;

• planned road closures for the next quarter and rolling year ahead, to allow all street and road

works to be planned within such closures as far as possible; and

• other significant events.

Works Management

Jobs raised through Enquiries and Inspections are managed through an optimised delivery model

underpinned by an end-to-end IT platform integrating works management systems with Confirm to give

full visibility of work status at all stages.

Our inspectors and works teams operate a mobile IT solution to enable accurate and timely data capture

while out on the network. Inspectors use Confirm Connect on mobile devices to record defect information

directly into the asset management system. All works are programmed and scheduled by the team in the

Operational Control Room using Work Manager and Masternaut, and issued to works teams’ handheld

devices.

The capture of accurate information when works are identified is critical to intelligent works programming

and subsequent delivery of ‘right-first-time’ repairs. Working closely with the operations team, the

Operational Controllers programme works to ensure maximum resource productivity and compliance with

required response levels. Additionally, Operational Controllers can use the Visual Planning Manager

function within Works Manager to identify batches of related work and group by geographical location; this

assists in the planning and scheduling of teams’ workload, reducing mileage and emissions while

maximising productivity. Once works are prioritised and scheduled they appear on the works teams

handheld devices in the required completion order.

The works teams follow standard operating processes to deliver works ‘right-first-time’ reducing the need

for repeat visits to a location essential for efficient asset management.

Customer Service

The Customer Service module links with the authority’s Environmental Customer Service centre who utilise

Confirm to manage the service enquiries received.


UKRLG Recommendation 6. Lifecycle Plans

Lifecycle planning principles should be used to review the level of funding, support investment decisions

and substantiate the need for appropriate and sustainable long term investment.

Our Approach - Lifecycle Planning

Lifecycle planning comprises of the approach to the provision and maintenance of an asset. It is the

prediction of future performance of an asset, or a group of assets and or components, based on

investment scenarios and maintenance strategies. The lifecycle plan is the documented output from this

process.

Development and use of lifecycle plans will demonstrate how our funding and performance requirements

are achieved through appropriate intervention and investment strategies, with the objective of minimising

expenditure while providing the required performance and maintaining levels of service.

Lifecycle Planning Process


Asset Creation / Inventory Capture

Our HAMS contain asset inventory on Trafford’s carriageways, footways, lighting columns, and structures

that are highway maintainable at the public expense. Work is continuing to keep updated our asset

information. Action Plan Item 6.1.

Routine Maintenance

Our highway inspection regime ensures that all Trafford’s roads and footways are inspected at various

frequencies dependent upon their hierarchy and in accordance with our Highway Inspection Manual.

Works ordered as a result of these inspections are determined based upon the category of the defect and

its associated response time plus other information such as indicative forward works programmes and

major utility works. We will aim to carry out effective reactive repairs in order to potentially prolong asset

life where possible.

Renewal or Replacement

With effective forward works planning and deterioration profiling, we will aim to carry out both proactive

treatments (such as surface dressing or micro-asphalting) and major renewal or replacement (resurfacing)

at the right time for the right cost, ensuring we get the maximum benefit for the cost outlay. This will be

determined by design life and calculated deterioration.

Decommissioning

It is rare for highway assets to be decommissioned. This usually only occurs when roads are ‘stopped up’

as a result of major highway improvements or realignments. As a result of this, it is possible that sections

of highway may fall into disuse, or be returned to the landowner of the subsoil beneath the highway.

Some drainage assets may be decommissioned if they are replaced by larger projects as a result of

increased flooding. Other assets such as signs or street lighting columns may be deemed to be

decommissioned when they have in fact been relocated as a result of improvement works.

We will ensure that our asset inventory is kept up to date as much as possible, taking into account these

changes which can be both frequent and varied.

Service Life / Performance Level

The type of asset in question will determine the method of measuring its level of performance and its

service life. Highway gullies, for example, have three elements: the ironwork above, the structure below

and its ability to drain water effectively (silting, blocked pipework etc). Each of these elements can be

measured in varying ways and each element will have different expectations as to its service life and its

whole life costing.

With regard to carriageways and footways, our performance levels will be determined by Road Condition

Indices which are gathered using a mixture of SCANNER surveys, CVI (Coarse Visual Inspection) FNS

(Footway Network Survey) and Safety Inspections. This data, coupled with deterioration profiling will

enable us to predict the condition of our roads and footways along a timeline, thus allowing us to target

the right treatment for the right cost, at the right time.

Deterioration Modelling

Our deterioration modelling software Horizons3, takes condition data from roads of the same class,

hierarchy and similar commercial vehicle (CV) usage over several years, monitors the change in condition

over this period of time and uses this information to predict the future status of defects. This is how we

will aim to produce a rolling indicative 3 to 5 years works programme based upon the predicted condition

of Trafford’s roads. Action Plan Item 6.2.

3 See Recommendation 12. Highway Asset Management Systems (HAMS) for detail of Horizons


Whole Life Costing

This will be the result of deterioration modelling. Using accurate figures for treatment costs and factoring

likely increases in costs over time, we will aim to produce whole life costs for many of our assets such as

carriageways and footways.

In the case of other indeterminate life assets such as road gullies, it may be more difficult to predict an

entire lifespan as assets such as these are rarely decommissioned and some are in place for decades, only

being replaced upon sudden failure due to single events (flooding, accidents etc)

• This will lead to us producing scenarios based upon the following drivers:

• The funding required to meet the performance targets.

• The expected performance of the asset if the available funding is insufficient to meet performance

targets.

• The funding required to maintain the asset in a steady state or any other desired condition.

• The lifecycle plan that delivers the minimum whole life cost.

Scenario Modelling

This involves the predicted outcome of taking a variety of options to the maintenance of our highway

network. By running such reports through the Horizons ‘Analysis’ software we will be able to predict the

future condition of the network, and indeed individual streets, based upon the anticipated budget

availability over a given number of years. Conversely, we can predict the likely cost of maintaining the

network to an agreed level of serviceability. The most likely scenario will be to use our maintenance

strategy to maximise the serviceability of the network based upon the predicted budget availability. Action

Plan Item 6.3.


UKRLG Recommendation 7. Works Programme

A prioritised forward works programme for a rolling period of 3 to 5 years should be developed and

updated regularly. Delivery of the works programme is the tangible outcome of the asset management

planning process.

Our Approach - Works Programme

The process to develop a works programme for maintenance and renewal of highway infrastructure assets

comprises the identification, prioritisation, optimisation, programming and delivery of individual schemes.

Reactive Maintenance – Highway Inspection Regime

The Highway Inspection Regime is in accordance with National Guidelines but is currently under review

however in collaboration with the 10 Greater Manchester authorities following the publication of new

guidance. This document is intended as a procedural guide for all employees involved in the inspection of

Trafford’s highway network. It covers only highway safety and service inspections (a service inspection is

an enhanced safety inspection with additional information recorded on overall condition but does not

attempt to address structural condition surveys).

This guide is not intended to cover inspections of public rights of way (generally rural footpaths, restricted

byways and bridleways) as shown on the definitive map record, detailed street lighting, or full tree

inspections. This is dealt with in Trafford Council’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

The principal aim of inspecting the highway is to identify and take action to remove those hazards causing

potential danger to highway users. Additionally, the process will support the development of programmes,

to maintain the asset and keep the highway in a serviceable condition. This is in line with our overall aim

of network safety, serviceability, and sustainability.

Highway Safety and Service Inspections are undertaken to identify defects that are creating or likely to

create a danger or serious inconvenience to users of the network or the wider community. Such defects

include those that will require urgent attention (within a maximum of 24 hours) as well as those where the

reduced level of severity is such that longer periods of response would be acceptable, or confirm that no

response is needed. Trafford has set its own standards for the frequency of its highway safety and service

inspections. Again, this is under review taking into account our asset management approach, a Greater

Manchester joint approach and National Guidelines.

Technical Survey Strategy

SCANNER Survey - We will review the current approach to carrying out SCANNER surveys on our

classified road network at the following frequencies: Action Plan Item 7.1.

‘A’ roads - 100% in one direction, alternating each year. One direction one year, the opposite direction in

the following year (2014/15 network = 75km)

‘B’ & ‘C’ roads - Also 100% in one direction, alternating each year (2014/15 network = 99km)

CVIs - We will review the current approach to carrying out CVIs for our unclassified network. Action Plan

Item 7.2. Trafford is split into 3 separate areas and one of these areas is surveyed each year with all areas

completed over a three-year period.

FNS Survey – We will undertake enhanced FNS for our footway network. The classified network will be

surveyed annually and the unclassified will follow the cycle to mirror CVI for unclassified roads.

SCRIM Survey – We have developed a Trafford Skid Resistance Policy and Survey Strategy for optimum

asset management approach; which may also be used for the other authorities within Greater Manchester.

Action Plan Item 7.3.


Forward Works Programme

The definitive output from this HIAMP is to have a comprehensive, fully integrated forward works

programme in place for all highway assets.

Using the ‘Horizons Analysis’ software from Yotta, we will look to create a rolling five-year maintenance

programme based upon projected asset condition (Deterioration Modelling) against costs and agreed levels

of asset performance.

There will effectively be a two-stage process whereby engineering parameters are applied to the data in

the first instance to establish an indicative five-year programme. The second stage will be to introduce

non-engineering parameters such as enquiry records, balancing area allocation and proximity of key

services. Action Plan Item 7.4.

Forward Works Programme Process

We will make this information, Works Programmes available either via the public website or regular

bulletins or both.

The benefits of this are:

Firstly, by using the predicted condition of our highway network we can plan a more efficient works

programme, balancing the needs of ‘worst-first’ with a greater emphasis on preventative

maintenance treatments which can reduce the demands of a ‘worst-first’ programme over time.

We will be able to predict when the optimum point on the deterioration curve is reached where the

allocated treatment at that point provides the greatest cost benefit. ‘The right treatment, at the

right time, for the right price.’

Secondly, having an indicative five-year works programme in place will help with co-ordination

activities both within and outside of Trafford’s highway network. We will be able to better plan the

timing and extent of utility works as well as fully co-ordinating our own internal multi-disciplinary

functions such as street lighting and structures works.

Thirdly, this approach allows for greater transparency in helping the general public, elected members

and other stakeholders to understand what Trafford Council’s future maintenance plans are and

how we’ve come to such decisions, which should remain objective and based upon sound

engineering criteria. It will allow for a larger amount of self-service and can help, particularly in the

case of elected members, parish councillors etc. to field enquiries about particular locations.

Optimisation

This Optimisation section of the HIAMP takes into consideration decision making and joint prioritisation

across asset groups with regard to determining works programmes.

One significant element of the decision-making prioritisation process is the potential for schemes to be

coordinated across asset groups, for example resurfacing a road in conjunction with replacement of a

culvert section or road safety scheme. Such alignment of schemes within the works programme is key to

optimising available funding across the Highways Service. The prioritisation lists generated by each of the

asset groups will be cross referenced for identification of potential alignment. Locations that appear near

to the top of more than one of the priority lists will be considered for engineering judgement as to whether


a joined-up scheme may be feasible. If elements are funded through different streams, careful planning

will be made with regards to aligning year end expenditure restraints.

Consideration will also be given to the order in which schemes are undertaken if they are not to be

undertaken jointly. For example, a culvert replacement scheme needs to be undertaken prior to a

carriageway resurfacing scheme on the same road if the culvert runs under the highway. Similarly, street

lights should be replaced before any footway reconstruction to avoid potential damage to footways.

Coordination with external bodies will also be important to service optimisation, including coordination with

statutory undertakers. Moving forward, this optimised holistic approach will improve cooperation, network

disruption and help inform the decision-making process.

Key Route Network

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has approved proposals for the establishment of a

‘Key Route Network’ (KRN), the most economically important roads in Greater Manchester, carrying the

highest concentrations of commuter and logistics traffic.

Trafford’s KRN comprises of approximately 65 kilometres of highway, approximately 7% of the total

network length. Establishing a defined KRN will benefit Greater Manchester through improved traffic

management across local authority borders, and will support GMCA in prioritising investment to meet the

current and future needs of Greater Manchester to boost economic growth, better coordinate roadworks

and improve travel information for road users.

Though the day-to-day maintenance of the KRN will stay with local authorities, TfGM are now in the

process of developing an Asset Management Plan for the KRN in collaboration with the GM Councils to

review and develop investment priorities. There will also be closer working arrangements with Highways

England and the Northern Transport Strategy, which will provide a more joined-up approach to improving

and managing the region’s motorways.

Trafford Council will continue to work and coordinate with TfGM to deliver the KRN Strategy.

TfGM & GMCA Collaborative Working

There is always a need for collaboration to address public problems or issues through building

relationships, shared knowledge, designing innovative solutions, and forging consequential change. When

used strategically, collaboration produces positive impacts, stakeholders committed to policy or programme

change, and strengthened capacity of individuals and organisations to effectively work together.

Successful collaborations have a common purpose, strong insistence on a whole systems approach, shared

power, and use the service user’s perspective to stimulate change.

We will continue to aspire to work with the members of the GMCA and TfGM to help understand these

joint challenges, and the opportunities of balancing the requirements of working across multiple employers

with differing priorities. We will encourage GMCA to work together, to find opportunities where cooperation

and even common procurement can cut costs to help reduce the pressures on resources. Action Plan Item

7.5.


Part C – Enablers Part C explains the enablers that support the implementation of Trafford Council Asset Management

Framework. It highlights the need for engagement with senior stakeholders and leadership, explains the

case for asset management, the context for risk management, and summarises the role of asset

management systems.

UKRLG Recommendation 8. Leadership and Commitment

Senior decision makers should demonstrate leadership and commitment to enable the implementation of

asset management.

Our Approach - Leadership and Commitment

Leadership has a strong influence on the culture and behaviour of all organisations. Our clear direction and

priorities will ensure that both significant and apparently relatively minor decisions taken across Trafford all

support a consistent approach to delivering asset management.

Ensuring the support of senior decision makers is key to the effective application of Highways Asset

Management. Engagement is continuous between all parties involved in the delivery of highway

maintenance at all levels within Trafford and a sound system of communication in both directions is in

place; via monthly strategic and executive member meetings. Reports are presented to Trafford’ Council

for performance management (monthly), works programming (tri-annually), and budget setting (annually).

Alongside the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Guidance Document, the UKRLG produced an

abbreviated document called Highways - Maintaining a vital asset (What should councillors know about

asset management?). Strong leadership and commitment from elected councillors and their chief officers is

vital in maintaining our highways. This leaflet explains how asset management can help Councils to

improve highway maintenance, by ensuring best use of available funds and demonstrating need for

investment.

We will ensure, through regular communication (committees, regular update bulletins and website

publishing) that the investment case for Asset Management is clearly stated and based upon predicted

funding and asset condition. Action Plan Item 8.1.


UKRLG Recommendation 9. The Case for Asset Management

The case for implementing the Asset Management Framework should be made by clearly explaining the

funding required and the wider benefits to be achieved.

Our Approach - The Case for Asset Management

Asset management has been widely accepted by central and local government as a means to deliver a

more efficient and effective approach to management of highway infrastructure assets through longer

term planning, ensuring that standards are defined and achievable for available budgets. It also supports

making the case for funding and better communication with stakeholders, facilitating a greater

understanding of the contribution highway infrastructure assets make to economic growth and the needs

of local communities.

Department for Transport Incentive Fund

The incentive funding element is about obtaining consistent adoption of good practice across all local

authorities to ensure value for money.

Time has been given to allow highway authorities to adopt efficiency measures, to gain buy-in from their

senior leaders and to make the necessary transformational changes to the full adoption of Asset

Management Principles.

In previous years, each local authority received all of its efficiency funding, both the ‘needs’ and ‘incentive’

elements of their initial award. However, for each subsequent future year there is an expectation that

continuous improvement is taking place by each highway authority. This level of improvement will be

reflected in the funding awarded through the size of the incentive received.

The DfT Incentive Fund places the need for a robust HIAMP at the heart of its selfassessment

methodology. We shall ensure that our HIAMP is fit for purpose not only at the time of its publication but

for the foreseeable future and able to adapt to the constantly changing landscape of highway

maintenance. Action Plan Item 9.1.


UKRLG Recommendation 10. Competencies and Training

The appropriate competency required for asset management should be identified, and training should be

provided where necessary.

Organisational Considerations

Asset management within Trafford is considered at three levels, namely strategic, tactical and operational.

Organisation Hierarchy Chart

Strategic

Strategic aspects of asset management include:

• Development and endorsement of Trafford’s Asset Management Framework

• Developing and agreeing Trafford’s Asset Management Policy, Strategy and Levels of Service and

Performance Targets

• Reviewing achievement of outcomes and benefits

Our Senior decision makers will be supported to enable to have a clear sight of the outcomes they wish to

achieve.

Tactical

At a tactical level decisions will be made on how to meet the performance requirements arising from our

asset management strategy. These decisions require Trafford’s knowledge, information and data in the

form of asset inventory, condition data and predicted performance of the network.

Tactical aspects of asset management include:

• Development of an Implementation and Action Plan

• Preparation of the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HIAMP) and/or other

supporting documents

• Development of a functional network hierarchy within Trafford


• Preparation of lifecycle plans and financial plans to meet either budgets or performance targets

• Developing the approach for prioritising schemes

• Developing works programmes

• Developing annual programmes

Operational

The operational level is about delivery of maintenance activities that align with our approach to asset

management.

Operational aspects include:

• Collection of data, including inspections, safety and serviceability defects and asset condition

• Management of our asset data

• Reactive work, including rectification of defects and winter service

• Cyclic maintenance

• Confirmation that works programmes can be implemented to budget and timescale

• Implementation of our works programme

• Co-ordination of works, including utilities, roadspace booking and or permitting requirements

• Reporting on the performance of our assets

Our Approach - Competencies and Training

We will identify the competencies necessary to meet our requirements for asset management. Where

these competencies are not available, training of staff will be implemented. Recruitment, mentoring and

collaboration with other authorities will also be considered.

To maintain competency regular training will be made available for staff undertaking roles in asset

management, such as the Highway Asset Manager. This will ensure Trafford Council has the continuing

ability to efficiently and effectively prepare, implement and review our approach to asset management.

Investment in development of staff will support the overall improvement in the implementation and

delivery of asset management supporting the subsequent business benefits.

Long term asset management involves many different people over time. As people change and as the

approach evolves, it will be necessary to ensure an orderly transfer of knowledge. This can best be

achieved where those involved in asset management have clear roles and where due consideration is given

to succession planning and the smooth hand-over of responsibilities.

Trafford will continue to ensure suitable competency across staff from all levels, from senior decision

makers to frontline operatives.

This will take the form of on-site & off-site training in the use of specific software packages such as

Horizons and Confirm as well as training and mentoring in Microsoft Office packages such as Excel, Word,

Publisher and Power Point. There will be a mixture of tailored training such as HMEP online toolkits and

day to day learning through frequent usage. Details of the training associated with Asset Management are

shown in the table at the end of this section. Action Plan Item 10.1.

It is also important, alongside the sharing of good practice between authorities, that we share knowledge

within our own organisation in the form of mentoring and day to day working together. The principles of

Asset Management will be communicated to relevant staff, including senior officials and engineers either

by one-one desktop study, in presentations and in open forums and workshops. HIAMP


meetings/workshops will be routinely held to raise awareness and communicate developments. Action Plan

Item 10.2.

Asset Management is a principle and as such it relies on knowledge, experience & skills from a wide range

of individuals and organisations to operate effectively. It will not function without the ‘buy in’ from senior

decision makers / elected members and as such we will make sure Trafford staff and members are made

fully aware of the benefits to be had from the proper application of these principles. We will ensure that

knowledge is allowed to feed in from both ends of the local authority spectrum.


ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK

Post Title Required Competencies Resources

Corporate Director – Trafford Council, &

Service Director –

One Trafford Partnership (OTP)

An Overall awareness. UKRLG HMEP Guidelines

HAM Policy & HIAMP

Highway Manager - One Trafford Partnership &

Principal Engineering

Manager

Knowledge of Corporate Policy & Strategy

UKRLG HMEP Guidelines

HAM Policy & HIAMP

Programme Director for Highway Asset Management

Detailed knowledge of national

& corporate policy, strategy & plan.

Detailed knowledge of Horizons – Explorer, Analyses &

Condition modelling, HAMS


HAM Policy & HIAMP

Horizons Training - Explorer, Analyses & Condition modelling

Lifecycle modelling

Highway Asset Team

Manager/Principal Engineer

Knowledge of national & corporate policy, strategy &

plan.

Detailed knowledge of Horizons – Explorer, Analyses &

Condition modelling, HAMS


HAM Policy & HIAMP

Horizons Training - Explorer, Analyses & Condition modelling

Lifecycle modelling

Data Management Lead

Detailed knowledge of Horizons

– Explorer, Analyses & Condition modelling, HAMS

UKRLG HMEP Toolkits

HAM Policy & HIAMP

HAMS Training

Horizons Training (Explorer

& Analysis) including further

Analysis Tools (Excel,

Access etc)

Principal Design Engineer

Knowledge of corporate policy,

strategy & plan. Horizons - Explorer

and knowledge of condition

modelling.


HAM Policy & HIAMP

Horizons Training - Explorer

Design Engineer

Horizons - Explorer

and knowledge of condition

modelling.


HAM Policy & HIAMP

Horizons Training - Explorer

All other Highway Staff An overall awareness UKRLG HMEP Guidelines

HAM Policy & HIAMP

Asset Management Competency Table


UKRLG Recommendation 11. Risk Management

The management of current and future risks associated with assets should be embedded within the

approach to asset management. Strategic, tactical and operational risks should be included as should

appropriate mitigation measures.

Our Approach - Risk Management

Trafford Council is required to manage a variety of risks at all levels within our remit. The likelihood and

consequences of these risks can be used to inform and support the approach to asset management and

inform key decisions on performance, investment and implementation of works programmes.

Risk can be defined as an uncertain event which, should it occur will have negative effect on the

performance of the asset or the asset directly. The level of risk can be defined as the likelihood of an event

occurring, and the magnitude of its impact on the asset which would result from the occurrence. Our

Highway Asset is subject to many risks:

• Safety – of staff engaged in works on the highway, or the much wider remit of public user safety

• Risk to Reputation – Trafford Council itself and those who rely on the asset for their businesses

• Loss or damage to the asset – ranging from total destruction in an instant due to an extreme

event to the steady deterioration of the asset due to wear and tear.

• Service reductions or complete failure – to lose some parts of the Network would potentially

directly threaten lives

• Environmental – threats both to and from the environment

• Financial and Contractual Risks – for Trafford Council and stakeholders

• And most importantly - combinations of the above!

Management of these risks is

fundamental to effective asset

management and Trafford Council

manages this risk via the process

diagram:

Management of Risk

Risk can be managed at several

levels using a consistent risk

framework that enables the

comparison of risks across all

services.

Corporate – High level risks that

include reputation, business

continuity, health and safety,

political and legal and financial

risk. Our risk policy and

management of these risks is

undertaken by our senior decision

makers.


Strategic & Tactical – Risks affecting the management of the highways infrastructure are considered

throughout at both strategic and tactical levels.

The level of risk to an asset is generally reflected by its place in the network hierarchy; however this can in

many cases be over-ridden by specific local needs. Our asset team are made aware of these needs by

close liaison with other colleagues within Trafford Council, and feedback from highway users.

At the strategic and tactical level, risk types are grouped together. The chart below shows the four main

risk categories and the separate risk elements within that will be managed effectively in Trafford Council:

Risk Categories

We will bring together Trafford Council’s assessment of risks for Highways infrastructure into risk registers,

representing the Categories above, which identifies implemented mitigation actions and includes a lessons

learnt register which will be signed off as recorded at all levels of the organisation. Action Plan Item 11.1.


Resilient Network

In July 2014, the Department for Transport published the ‘Transport Resilience Review – A review of

the resilience of the transport network to extreme weather events’. The Review recognises that

an economically rational approach should be taken to spending on resilience, “ensuring that enough is

invested, with the right prioritisation, and avoiding wasteful and economically unjustified expenditure”. The

report made various recommendations about climate change, extreme weather events and network

resilience that all local authorities must put plans in place to manage such events and provide a transport

network which is robust enough to cope when the worst happens.

The new Code of Practice for Highway Maintenance Management published in October 2016

contains guidance for the development of a resilient network, allied to a risk-based approach to highway

maintenance.

The National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies is the source document for risk assessment in the UK

and is supported by specific guidance and Local Risk Registers within all Local Resilience Forums. These

documents will help frame the risks faced and the threat they present. Interaction with emergency

planning teams within all organisations and partners will be key to understanding and aligning response to

the risks.

A Resilient Network has been identified throughout Trafford which will receive priority through

maintenance and other measures in order to maintain economic activity and access to key services during

disruptive events. The process for identifying the Resilient Network considered which routes are absolutely

essential and which can be done without for a period of time.

Our Resilient Network includes:

• those routes crucial to the economic and social life of the local or wider Trafford area;

• take account of repeat events, e.g. flooding; and

• local factors.

In order to keep abreast with the current climate, we will review the current resilient network every 2

years, including liaison with key stakeholders, and to also update after any events, based on lessons

learnt. This will include not only resilience against snow, ice and flooding it will also cover exceptional heat,

industrial action, major incidents and other local risks. Action Plan Item 11.2.


Trafford Council already has emergency planning in place for operational response and also protection of

the vulnerable and less-abled in times of crisis however, they will remain under review for updates.

Allied to this is a comprehensive understanding by our Flood Risk Management staff of known and

potential flooding hotspots based upon recent history events and shared data from other organisations,

such as the Environment Agency and Internal Drainage Boards.

Critical Assets

Critical assets are those that are essential for supporting the social and business needs of Trafford, GMCA,

TfGM and national economy. They are currently identified as those on the KRN. They will have a high

consequence of failure, but not necessarily a high likelihood of failure. These assets will be identified

separately and assessed in greater detail as part of the asset management planning process by TfGM with

separate KRN Asset Management Plan.

Trafford will continue to identify ‘Critical Assets’ such as bridges, junctions and routes that will form the

backbone of resilient network planning. Action Plan Item 11.3.

Potholes Review

The HMEP Potholes Review was published in April 2012 as a response to the increase in the number of

potholes on the highway network.

The Potholes Review identified good practice within the sector and provided local highway authorities with

new ideas, case studies and approaches that could be easily transferred to those who wished to adopt a

longer-term, preventative approach to maintaining their road network.

The Potholes Review made 17 recommendations aimed at local highway authorities, the broader highways

maintenance sector (including suppliers), the UK Roads Liaison Group and the Department for Transport.

The Potholes Review explained that:

• Prevention is better than cure – Intervening at the right time will reduce the number of

potholes forming and prevent bigger problems later on.

• Right first time – Do it once and get it right, rather than face continuous bills. Guidance,

knowledge and workmanship are the enablers to this.

• Clarity for the public – Local highway authorities need to communicate to the public what is

being done and how it is being done.

Managing Trafford’s local highway network is now a critical challenge. We know that maintaining and

improving our highways, with less money, is a key priority; and that this has been intensified following the

bad weather and continued demand and scrutiny from members of the public and business leaders.

We have reviewed the 17 recommendations within the Potholes Review and aligned our asset

management approach to also reflect and include the recommendations therein. This approach will help to

work towards a balanced longer-term strategic planning and to keep our local roads safe and serviceable.

Drainage Assets

Flood and Water Management Act 2010. This Act establishes a hierarchy of authorities responsible for

managing flood risk, and the local highway authority is one such risk management authority, responsible

for ensuring its actions are consistent with the national flood and coastal erosion risk management

strategy in England, prepared by the Environment Agency (EA). In order to manage drainage systems cost

effectively, it is necessary for local highway authorities to have a robust drainage asset management

strategy. The strategy must be able to support and inform decision making that addresses the need to

deliver highway maintenance in a way that balances growing service demands with reducing resources.


Trafford Council, in producing this HIAMP shall review the current Flood Risk Management Plan,

prepared/funded by AGMA, which is due to be updated in 2017. It is anticipated that future updates of

the Flood Risk Management Plan would also be undertaken/funded for Trafford and the 10 GM authorities

through AGMA. Under current legislation this exercise is repeated every 6 years. Action Plan Item 11.4.

The Local Flood Risk Strategy for Trafford was prepared by the Strategic Planning department. It is

anticipated that renewal of this strategy in future would again be carried out by them. Action Plan Item

11.5.


UKRLG Recommendation 12. Highway Asset Management Systems (HAMS)

Asset management systems should be sustainable and able to support the information required to enable

asset management. Systems should be accessible to relevant staff and, where appropriate, support the

provision of information for stakeholders.

Our Approach - Highway Asset Management Systems (HAMS)

Good asset management needs to be supported by

robust processes for implementation and management

as well as good quality, repeatable and reliable data.

Our asset management system will support decision

making through managing information and data to

support asset management as well as to record and

monitor its implementation.

Trafford Council will utilise software applications and

asset management processes to manage our Highway

Asset. These systems and applications are detailed in

this section to all the inputs and outputs to be

achieved as per the diagram.

Asset Database Confirm

In 2015 the One Trafford Partnership brought with it

the Confirm system which provides Trafford Council

with a robust tool for reporting the performance of our

systems and working practices. This system can be

upgraded to provide greater functionality and to

maintain compliance with other protocols, as these

become available from the provider. Action Plan Item

12.1.

Asset Register - Spatial and non-spatial data of

highway assets and their associated attributes are

being added to the Confirm Asset Database.

HAMS Data Flow

Customer / Stakeholder Enquiries – Trafford’s Customer Services Centre feeds information on

enquiries / complaints from the general public and others into Confirm which provides us with information

which, when aligned with engineering data from technical surveys, can enhance the overall picture of

Trafford’s highway network.

Pavement Management Data - Confirm can be utilised to store, process and analyse data from

technical condition surveys.

Highway Inspections - We will continue to manage our highway inspection regime using Confirm and in

accordance with our Highway Inspection Safety Policy.


Asset Valuation

We will continue to use UKRLG Toolkit for the provision of data to the Department for Transport for the

Whole of Government Accounts including Depreciated Replacements Costs and Gross Replacement Costs.

Amey Asset Manager - Horizons

Horizons is a visualised PMS (Pavement Management

Software) product from Yotta. Its greatest attribute is its

ability to take complicated and vast amounts of road and

footway condition data and display it in a visualised format

using maps, graphs, pie-charts and video. This enables us to

present the information to a wider audience, both

engineering and non-engineering. Action Plan Item 12.2.

Horizons uses the ‘Red, Amber, Green’ (RAG) format to

display data on the Road Condition Index (RCI) which is a

value given to each sub-section of road based upon a formula

which pulls together the severity of each individual defect.

Horizons is used to analyse and display road condition data from technical surveys such as SCANNER for

Trafford.

Map Info

MapInfo is a geographical information system (GIS), designed to interact with Confirm and is primarily

used for plotting spatial asset data onto base maps. The co-ordinate data from MapInfo is transferrable

between various platforms including Horizons and Microsoft Office programmes such as Excel.

We use MapInfo to plot not only asset locations but also some attributes such as public highway extents,

flooding and administration areas.


UKRLG Recommendation 13. Performance Monitoring

The performance of the Asset Management Framework should be monitored and reported. It should be

reviewed regularly by senior decision makers and when appropriate, improvement actions should be taken.

Our Approach - Performance Monitoring

A well-developed approach to performance monitoring provides Trafford with the ability to continuously

improve our asset management knowledge, processes and systems to support effective delivery of asset

management and to build on lessons learnt to enable them to continuously improve. Our measures are

broken down into:

Strategic Monitoring – To seek assurance that asset management is being operated as intended. This

includes monitoring to ascertain whether our asset management strategy outcomes are being met,

including stakeholder requirements, that the approach to asset management has been documented and

implemented, and that the supporting processes are effective;

Performance Measures and Targets – To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of asset management

we monitor using a series of metrics at the strategic, tactical and operational levels. This includes

monitoring against levels of service and supporting performance targets and determining whether they

have been met;

System Audits – We monitor the data in the asset management system in order to determine whether it

is fit for purpose, as well as reviewing the output and how it is being used;

Compliance Monitoring – We monitor the performance of our maintenance contractors against their

contractual obligations.

Trafford Council has a good performance management system in place to measure, monitor, assess and

compare performance indicators; performance information is collated in the HIAMP’s supporting

Performance Management Framework and currently takes the form of:

1. Indicators measuring the condition of the asset

Performance Indicators (PIs) on road condition are measured by authorities UK wide and are

bench marked with the 10 GM authorities. The conditions PI’s are reported annually.

There are a number of PIs that measure the condition of both the carriageway and footway asset.

Condition surveys are carried out following government requirements. 50% of the principal and

non-principal classified road network is surveyed each year using a repeatable machine survey and

33% of the unclassified road network by coarse visual inspection survey. The carriageway

indicators used are called 130-1, 130-2, and BVPI224b. A programme of FNS footway Network

Surveys will be carried out annually with an indicator for condition.

2. Indicators measuring the operational performance of the contractor

A range of PI’s are used to measure the operational performance of the contractor for network

safety and serviceability and reported monthly.

Operational indicators relating to street lighting are also reported to the government. These

measure the number of days taken to repair a street lighting fault for both street lighting faults that

are under the control of Trafford Council and where the response time is under the control of the

electrical supplier. Data is collected and reported on a quarterly basis.

3. Indicators measuring customer/stakeholder satisfaction

Customer Care Performance Indicators - CCPI’s are developed to measure customer/stakeholder

satisfaction. They focus on the highways maintenance elements of the Trafford NHT customer


survey where areas for improvement in customer satisfaction are identified. Areas where highway

maintenance performance stakeholder satisfaction is high is also recognised.

4. Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) Indicators

The performance of Trafford Council in its own right and in comparison with others is assessed in

part by a number of highways related performance indicators. The CPA indicators are:

• All those killed or seriously injured in Road Traffic Collisions

• People slightly injured in Road Traffic Collisions

5. Local Area Agreement (LAA) Indicators

Performance against targets set under Local Area Agreements is assessed using a number of

performance indicators that have been agreed with the government. There are currently no LAA

indicators or targets directly measuring the condition of the asset but achievement against target

may be indirectly affected by asset condition and levels of service set.

6. Safety Inspections

Inspectors carry out safety inspections of the network as per the Highway Safety Inspection Policy

throughout the year.

We will continue to monitor the performance of our assets against their performance targets to determine

whether we are meeting our approach to asset management and if not, why not Action Plan Item 13.1.

This will take the form of an HIAMP Action Plan which has been referenced to throughout this HIAMP and

is included within the HIAMP Packaged Documents. This Action Plan is a live document (as is the HIAMP)

and will be managed accordingly.

We will also use a collaborative approach with TfGM, AGMA and other authorities so that lessons may be

learnt and shared.


UKRLG Recommendation 14. Benchmarking

Local and national benchmarking should be used to compare performance of the Asset Management

Framework and to share information that supports continuous improvement.

Our Approach - Benchmarking

Benchmarking is a systematic process of collecting information and data to enable comparisons with the

aim of improving performance, both absolutely and relatively to others. It provides a structure to search

for better practice in similar authorities that can then be integrated into an asset management approach.

TfGM and GMCA

Trafford is fully engaged with GMCA and TfGM in which we share innovation and good practice. The GMCA

is made up of the 10 Greater Manchester Councils, who work with other local services, businesses,

communities and other partners to improve the city-region. The 10 councils (Bolton, Bury, Manchester,

Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan) have worked together voluntarily

for many years on issues that affects everyone in the region.

We will continue to work with GMCA and TfGM to exchange objective and subjective data on all areas of

Asset Management from stakeholder satisfaction through to national road condition data.

National Highways & Transportation Survey

We will continue to supply data to the NHT which serves to provide details on levels of customer

satisfaction with local authority services and practices. This will help us to target and publish information

clearly and effectively to ensure members of the public and other highways stakeholders are as fully

informed as possible about the current performance of our services.

CQC (Cost, Quality, Customer) Benchmarking Club

After joining the UK wide CQC (Cost, Quality, and Customer) benchmarking group last year Trafford will

continue to take part in the group going forward and attending meetings with the other GM authorities

also taking part. This group aims to identify efficient practice in the delivery of highway carriageway

maintenance, looking at spend and comparing it to condition information. It also has a ‘Why Questionnaire’

which help authorities understand why highly performing authorities are doing better than others.

Department for Transport Submissions

Our annual submissions of condition data to the DfT gives us a clear indication of how we are performing

relative to other authorities. We can use this data to identify key areas for improvement.

Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme (HMEP)

The work of the HMEP has been at the cornerstone of all strands of highway maintenance activities. There

are several guidance documents which give recommendations on the best way of delivering these services

using Asset Management Principles. This document is itself founded on these recommendations which also

tie-in very closely with the 2015-2021 DfT funding models (the Incentive Fund in particular) the new over-

arching Approved Code of Practice and also the Whole of Government Accounting which calls for greater

detail on asset inventory in future submissions.

Ensuring that Trafford Council has the UKRLG guidance at the heart of our approach to highway

maintenance now and in the future, we will also ensure we are properly measured against all other local

authorities for all development, programming and delivery operations. Action Plan Item 14.1.

Asset Management Standards

We recognise the need to attain and maintain a robust asset management approach and ensure this meets

national industry standards. Apart from the UKRLG Guidance (which this HIAMP is aligned to) and the new


Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice 2016, which has also been referred to, we will

consider assessment and accreditation to ISO 55000; the international standard covering the management

of physical assets. Action Plan Item 14.2.

15. Our Future Actions Moving Forward

The development of this HIAMP has been a continuation of the good asset management practice in

Trafford since its first Highways Asset Management Plan was published in 2007. Trafford is committed to

keeping in step with best asset management practice and is keen to make continuous improvement from

lessons learned. The HIAMP is takes into account current best practice asset management guidance and

will be monitored and maintained as a live document by One Trafford staff members who have

responsibility for its further development. The Action Plan which form part of this document identifies

individual actions for improvement is central to this process. See Action Plan

To continually improve, the Action Plan will be further developed and monitored by staff members within

Trafford Council, who will have responsibility for and drive the delivery of the improvement actions and

further development of the HIAMP.

Asset Management Group

An Asset Management Group, led by the Team Manager/Principal Engineer for Asset Management which

includes all parties involved in the delivery of asset management including contractors, will discuss the

action plan on a regular basis and agree on priority actions: Action Plan Item 15.1.

• Progress in delivering the Action Plan

• Progress in improving information on the asset

• Performance of the asset

• Updated lifecycle plans and level of service documents

• An option appraisal report

• Updated risk register

• Updated Gross and Depreciated asset values and Annualised Depreciation Charge

• Financial projections

• Progress on the development of forward programmes of works


Appendix A - Asset Management Plan for Carriageways

Survey Strategy and Data Collection

Trafford’s technical carriageway survey strategy for each year will remain as follows for the foreseeable

future:

SCANNER Survey

• ‘A’ Roads: 100% in one direction (2014/15 Network Length = 75km)

• ‘B’ Roads: 100% in one direction (2014/15 Network Length = 56km)

• ‘C’ Roads: 100% in one direction (2014/15 Network Length = 43km)

As a general rule, Roundabouts & Dual Carriageways are surveyed in alternate years.

Coarse Visual Inspection (CVI)

Unclassified Roads: Approximately one third of network.

Skid Resistance Survey

We will develop a Trafford Skid Resistance Policy and Survey Strategy for optimum asset management

approach; which may also be used for the other authorities within Greater Manchester. Action Plan Item

A.1.

Maintenance Strategy

The highway asset is the most valuable asset within Trafford. Due to historically low investment the

highway network has been deteriorating faster than it can be repaired resulting in a general decline in

condition. In a climate where budgets and resources are tightening, Trafford is facing significant

challenges in deciding how to manage our assets effectively.

The key asset performance indicators for carriageway are in the Table below, with a brief description of

the carriageway they apply to:

Indicator Description

130-01 (DfT Class 3)

The conditions of Principal (A) roads. This indicator is calculated from SCANNER outputs, combining 7 core defects

together to calculate the RCI (Road Condition Indicator).

130-02 The conditions of Non-Principal Classified (B & C) roads. This indicator is calculated from SCANNER outputs, combining 7 core

defects together to calculate the RCI (Road Condition Indicator).

BVPI 224b

(DfT Class 6)

The Best Value Performance Indicator 224b is the condition of

Unclassified Roads. The indicator is calculated from CVI (Course Visual Inspection), it is a combination of 6 different

defects that are collected to give the carriageway an overall score.


Works Programme / Life Cycle Planning

Trafford will plan to develop a programme to undertake a balanced approach utilising the best bits of a

‘worst-first’ strategy alongside the feasibility of a more proactive approach, using more preventative

treatments. This multi-year programme will be designed to deliver the right treatment, at the right time,

for the greatest long-term benefit. Action Plan Item A.2.

We believe this to be a better method than prescribing specific treatments as it will allow engineers to

employ local knowledge when considering treatment types based upon unique site conditions and the

overall transport dynamic of the local area.

We will aim to consider factors and assets other than simply road condition data such as programmes of

work involving footways, cycleways, structures and street lighting. This will be moulded into an ‘Optimised

Holistic Approach’ as far as possible where we consider carrying out as much asset maintenance as is

required, within the same location, thereby reducing the need for repeated traffic management,

particularly on critical junctions and primary routes.

An indicative 5 year works programme will not only help the authority to better plan and integrate our own

internal works but it will also aid with integrating our works with neighbouring Council’s / Boroughs and

outside bodies such as public utility companies. We can design works to coincide where possible, reducing

disruption, and also ensure projects are carried out in a sensible order to cut down the chances of newly

laid surfaces being re-excavated soon after completion.

Material Life Cycle

Hot Rolled Asphalt

On heavily trafficked sites within Trafford (A and B roads) we are looking to introduce Hot Rolled Asphalt

as an alternative surfacing material to Stone Mastic Asphalt, increasing the life of the network and

reducing the maintenance frequency on these routes. Action Plan Item A.3.

Due to the urban environment and the number of traffic signals and junctions along these routes we have

proposed (discussions with Amey Highways) the use of a high stone content HRA (55/10 or 55/14).

Concrete Speed Cushions

The current bituminous speed cushions have been deforming in many locations due to the difficulty compacting the material during the construction phase and the amount of vehicles travelling over them.

We would look to adopt a similar approach to the Sheffield network with the introduction of concrete road

cushions to reduce the maintenance frequency and avoid replacing every time carriageway re-surfacing / renewal operations take place.

Reactive Maintenance

The Highway is routinely inspected as part of a planned inspection regime detailed in The Highway

Inspection Manual with inspections being carried out at a set frequency (Monthly, 3 Monthly, 6 Monthly,

Annually). This combined with our Customer Relations process results in all inspections being undertaken

by the area Highway Inspector. Any defect identified as part of an inspection will be prioritised utilising a

risk based approach to prioritise the response (Emergency, Cat 1, Cat 2-High or Cat 2-Low). Where

possible, Cat 1 repairs will be undertaken at the time of inspection using a proprietary repair material.


Appendix B - Asset Management Plan for Footways and Cycletracks


It has been approximately 7 years since a UKPMS FNS was undertaken on Trafford footways. Since that

time Trafford inspectors have carried out an annual engineering survey to determine footway condition. As

from 2017 it has been determined that the enhanced condition footway network survey - FNS (option 3)

will re-commence in Trafford with an annual cycle defined to give broad consistency with the CVI cycle.


To align footway asset management with our approach to carriageway asset management, we have

developed a new model approach within Horizons. Footways are split into 8 condition categories with

respect to 5 different CVI defect codes, Structurally Unsound (SU), Functionally Impaired (FI), Aesthetically

Impaired (AI), and As New (AN). Each score is now given its own FWCI (Footway Condition Indicator) so

the condition can be deteriorated (1 -> 2 is easier than AN-100 -> FI-25). Below is the Trafford network

which has been separated by the FWCI.

Severity-Percentage Length % of total length FWCI

SU-100 15239.17 1% 7

SU-50 24879.38 2% 6

SU-25 155753 13% 5

FI-100 14392.07 1% 4

FI-50 47265.86 4% 3

FI-25 458858.6 39% 2

AI-100 144811.5 12% 1

AN-100 317724.6 27% 0


As we move forward, we will use the information gathered from the Footway Safety Inspections to feed in

to the selection process for footways to be included in future maintenance programmes. Action Plan Item

B.1.

Footway Network Surveys (incl. FNS+, a more detailed survey) are undertaken by an external provider

which will serve us better in preparing a programme of works for footways network-wide. Action Plan Item

B.2.

In general, footways in a higher hierarchy will generate maintenance schemes on their own, those such as

prestige walking areas and shopping centres. This will not always be the case but we will look to raise the

priority of footways which meet the criteria for more than a localised repair and are alongside carriageway

schemes which are already in the forward works programme. This will form part of an ‘Optimised Holistic

Approach’ to highway maintenance whereby, having an indicative rolling five-year maintenance

programme will help us to consider other works which can be co-ordinated to take place concurrently or in

a prescribed order to cut down on traffic management costs and repeat visits to the same site. Action Plan

Item B.3.


This can apply to both internal works such as lighting column replacement or drainage and also external

works such as utility plant maintenance or replacement.

We will look to tie this in with the developing multi-year indicative capital works programme for

carriageways, lighting and other assets as part of the ‘Optimised Holistic Approach’ approach to future

maintenance, reducing the occurrence of repeated road closures or restrictive traffic management

arrangements.

Cycleways

The DfT will be putting greater emphasis on the asset management of cycleways in the coming years and

we are committed to building our existing inventory of both on-street and off-highway Cycletracks using

data gathered from highway inspections, technical surveys by third parties and our own in-house

improvement programmes.


Appendix C - Asset Management Plan for Structures


All structures, irrespective of their type and structural form deteriorate over time. Each structure is made

up of a large number of individual components that deteriorate at different rates and to different extents.

It is therefore impractical to consider the deterioration of a structural asset as a whole for asset

management purposes, but instead consider specific common components of structures across the

Trafford network. If these are then managed and maintained appropriately it will minimise the

deterioration of the structure as a whole, as deterioration of these components leads to the vast majority

of other maintenance issues either directly or indirectly.

All highway structures are subject to routine inspections in accordance with best practice. These include

two main types of inspections, general and principal. General inspections (GIs) are usually undertaken

every 2 years for each structure, and principal inspections (PIs) every 6. In addition, special inspections

are undertaken when an issue requiring further investigation has been identified.

Over time, the intention is to vary the frequency of inspections for individual structures or groups of

structures depending on a number of factors including safety, availability and condition. As with other

asset types, cyclical (routine) maintenance and planned inspections fall under revenue maintenance

budgets. However, the dividing line between the planning processes for reactive maintenance and capital

renewal is somewhat less distinct than it is for carriageway and footway assets. In particular, the same

types of routine inspections are used as part of managing both types of investment.

Inspections are carried out by Trafford’ own in house Inspectors and Engineers in accordance with DMRB Standard BD 63/07 ‘Inspection of Highway Structures’. The programme of inspections is

determined from the inspection frequency cycle which generally follows the recommendations of the Management of Highway Structures Code of Practice.

The data produced and information gathered during both general and principal inspections enables

completion of inspection pro forma for determination of the Bridge Condition Indices (BCI). An overall

score for the whole bridge stock can be determined using this measure and is useful for tracking overall

condition and identifying structures in poor condition.

Structure Reviews are carried out in accordance with BD 101/11 ‘Structural Review and Assessment

of Highway Structures’ and are only carried out if the need arises. Annex A of this Standard includes a

flowchart that more clearly illustrates the process of determining whether an assessment is required.

The Inspection data and spatial location data for highway structures is to be stored onto TfGM bridge

management system; PONTIS in 2018, together with the rest of the Greater Manchester structures data.

The desired condition of the asset is not currently defined by any specific standard. The BCI rating system

implies that the desired bridge stock condition should be somewhere in the categories ‘good’ to ‘very

good’, scores between 80 -100 (>90 = very good). Trafford is therefore working on the basis that the

desired strategy subject to funding would be to move bridge stock condition into the ‘very good’

category for both critical and average indicators and then to maintain it at that level.

There is no condition intervention criteria as such except when there is a risk posed to the public. In this

case actions are triggered to make the structure safe and to carry out repair work. This is usually

associated with emergency repairs to parapets and safety fencing following traffic accidents.


Route Classification

Highway Structures

Road

Bridges

(RB)

Subways

(S)

Foot Bridges

(FB)

Culverts

(c)

Retaining Walls

Sign Gantries

Strategic Non

Trunk Route

Primary

28 5 - 2 3 -

Regional Primary Route

A

19 - - 4 1 3

Principal/Urban

Distributor

B

54 3 1 7 7 -

Secondary Distributor

C

23 - 1 11 2 -

Local U

10 - 1 5 - -

Rural

Footpaths

2 - 71 7 - -

Others 19 1 2 2 - -

Totals 155 9 78 39 13 3

Total 297

Highway Structures Asset Inventory in Trafford


Routine maintenance activities can be classed as cyclic work and tend to be carried out on an annual basis

with the timings based on historical experience. Steady state maintenance is carried out to maintain the

condition of the structure by protecting it from deterioration or slowing down the rate of deterioration.

Reactive maintenance is usually emergency work and is dealt with urgently on the grounds of safety such

as emergency repairs following a bridge strike.

Essential maintenance work can also be reactive and occurs when major repairs are identified and must be

carried out quickly before the structure becomes unsafe; such as to prevent defects leading to much more

significant defects that would be very costly to repair. For example, if a bridge expansion joint has failed

this is not safety critical, but if that failure is likely to lead to water ingress and corrosion of the bearings

(which can be very costly to replace), this would class as essential (or at least high priority) reactive

maintenance.

A good routine and steady state maintenance programme reduces the likelihood for essential maintenance.


The majority of future works are planned up to 3 years ahead with advanced design and planning work

undertaken a year ahead. This allows works to be ordered early in the new financial year, taking

advantage of the spring, summer and autumn months.

We will look to tie this in with the developing optimised multi-year indicative capital works programme for

carriageways, footways, lighting and other assets as part of our holistic approach to future maintenance;

reducing the occurrence of repeated road closures or restrictive traffic management arrangements. Action

Plan Item C.1.


Structures Future Asset Management

Our future approach will be to bring bridges Structural Reviews up-to-date and produce a specific Bridges

Asset Management Plan as follows:

• Review current industry best practice for prioritisation of bridges maintenance work.

• Recommend and agree the most suitable approach for prioritising One Trafford bridges

maintenance work.

• Review existing record information held by One Trafford / Trafford Council, and produce a priority

list of all Trafford Council’s bridges.

• Identify which bridges require Structural Reviews in accordance with BD 101/11, and complete the

required Structural Reviews.

• Develop outline bridges schemes (likely scope and cost of required works).

• Recommend priority schemes, and, within Trafford Council’s expected bridges maintenance

budget, propose a programme of bridges maintenance works for the each of the next 3 financial

years (2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21).

The above will enable Trafford Council to demonstrate that the bridges maintenance budget is being used

to optimal effect, and that risk is being managed effectively.

The completed Bridges Asset Management Plan would be an example of good practice with the potential

to collaborate with TfGM and other Greater Manchester local authorities, to assist with management of

their bridges maintenance work.


Appendix D - Asset Management Plan for Highway Lighting

Strategy

There are approximately 27,900 street lights in Trafford at the present time. There is an ongoing

replacement programme for the entire stock of sodium (SOX and SON) lighting, to change them to new

LED lanterns. This programme is expected to be complete by the end of October 2017, and will result in

approx. 23,000 new lanterns being fitted. The new LED lanterns will be monitored via a Central

Management System (CMS) and dimmed between the hours of 10pm and 7am. With the LED’s operating

at a much lower wattage than the sodium lamps, together with being dimmed, this means that the sodium

replacement programme will result in substantially lower energy charges and carbon output.

The LED lanterns have an expected lifespan of some 25 years, as opposed to the sodium lamps, which last

about 4 years therefore, a much-reduced number of maintenance visits will be required.


Trafford runs an annual Column Replacement Programme (CRP), which replaces life expired columns,

based on their condition. This programme is put together using the knowledge of dedicated Lighting

Maintenance Engineers. The CRP not only targets columns in the poorest condition but also dovetails with

the sodium replacement programme. In this way, columns are also targeted on their ability to be fitted

with LED lanterns. Non-standard column types such as cast iron are not conducive for refitting. If these

types of column are replaced in conjunction with the sodium replacement programme then the whole area

can effectively be changed, leaving no small pockets that are out of sync with the rest of the area.

An electrical test and visual condition check is carried out at the same time as the lantern refit.


As the LED stock increases, the number of lighting faults will steadily fall. Over this period the funding

normally associated with reactive repairs may be redirected towards column replacement where much of

Trafford’s stock is already over 20 years old.

Trafford has an aging column stock which will continue to deteriorate over the lantern replacement period.

As new LED lanterns will have been fitted to virtually all of the Trafford’s stock, column replacement will

then involve refitting the existing LED lanterns back onto the new columns.

With the LED lanterns, the equipment has a much longer ‘lifespan’ than the traditional lanterns. This,

combined with the new columns that have a 40/50-year design life, means the replacement and testing

regimes will be co-ordinated to require less visits. The electrical testing is undertaken every 6 years,

whereas the driver is replaced after 12 years use and the lantern replaced every 24 years. This rolling 6-

year cycle results in a programmed testing and replacement regime. This co-ordination of routine but

necessary tasks will be much more efficient than at present, will save money and better maintain the

asset. Action Plan Item D.1.


Appendix E - Asset Management Plan for Drainage Strategy

This plan is aligned with the recommendations set out in the HMEP document ‘Guidance on the

Management of Highway Drainage Assets’.

Trafford will be adopting a ‘Risk-Based Approach’ to management of our drainage assets in line with the

recommendations in the over-arching Code of Practice for Highway Infrastructure. This method provides

the most effective way for all local authorities to make the most of limited budgets. We will utilise

condition data from a network wide inspection and cleansing programme to form a maintenance regime

which takes account of how drainage assets perform over a period of time in respect of their capacity,

location and any other localised conditions. Assets such as road gullies will be placed on a matrix based

upon the severity and the frequency with which their condition changes ie: how often and at what rate the

silt level rises within the gully chamber. This will ultimately lead to a regime where some assets are

inspected and maintained more or less frequently than others based upon the relative risk of their

becoming a hazard to road / footway / cycleway users or residents.

Trafford uses an approved drainage survey & maintenance contractor sourced though our ongoing

partnership arrangement with Amey LG. The information data on drainage asset condition and

performance is on-going and is gathered in such a way that it is easily transferred into our existing Confirm

asset management system. Work is ongoing to gather gulley assets and possibly map other drainage

assets using information from hard copy plans and as-built drawing from historic works and investigations.

The intention will be to digitised this data as a layer of nodes and lines with associated attributes attached

to them where known. This will continue to build over time into a comprehensive database. Action Plan

Item E.1.

This data will then be linked directly to our highway network via Confirm. Drainage assets will be tied to

specific streets where possible using the unique street reference number (USRN) as this will enable us to

connect enquiries, inspections and defects to particular assets and build up a picture of the performance of

our whole drainage systems.

The costs of surveying pipework using CCTV can be very expensive and our current practice is to identify

the requirement for further investigations at known hotspots where significant flooding events occur to

help us understand the causes and identify potential solutions. It is important for us to understand the size

and condition of our surface water network, taking into account the whole catchment, as the solution to a

specific problem is often in a different location to the site of the flooding itself, usually an upstream/

downstream blockage caused by collapse, tree root ingress or third party works causing damage. As Lead

Local Flood Authority (LLFA) Trafford have a register of flood risk assets including watercourses which

helps build an overall picture for identifying and investigating flooding hotspots. It can also be the case, in

a fully functioning system that its capacity is insufficient to cope with sustained periods of heavy rain. In

these circumstances the capacity of our drainage systems against predicted future rainfall can be

investigated to directing funding and technical expertise in the right areas.


We carry out gully emptying, jetting, survey and GIS plotting work on Trafford’s drainage assets. Assets

are plotted and given a unique ID. This data gives us a focal point for the continuing work of plotting our

entire highway drainage network and also gives a reference for decision making on ownership and

maintenance responsibilities and future design modelling to reduce the likelihood and / or scale of flooding

events.


Appendix F - Asset Inventory

Asset Group Number/length

Roads (all classifications): 834 km

A roads 75km

B & C roads 56km (B) 43km (C)

Unclassified roads 653km

Footways (all classifications): 1,196km

Category 1 18.4km

Category 2 11.4km

Category 3 1152.6km

Category 4 13.6km

Kerb 1,379.62km

Verge 21km

Road bridges and Culverts 148 no.

Streetlights 27,998 no.

Street Light 5&6m 19,319 no.

Street Light 8m 3,467 no.

Street Light 10m 4,259 no.

Street Light 12m 936 no.

Street Light Mast High 17 no.

Illuminated Bollards 1,132 no.

Non-Illuminated Signs 11,910 no.

Street Name Plates 12,000 no.

Litter Bins 1,000 no.

Bollards 1,700 no.

Public Seats 500 no.

Pedestrian Guard Rail 10,550 (metres)

Life Buoys 4 no.

Armco Barriers 50,000 (metres)

Structures 297 no.

Lit signs 3,288

Public Rights of Way (all RoW): TBC

Footpaths 94km

Bridleway 2km

Byway 11km

Vehicle restraints (safety fences) TBC

Drainage systems TBC


Asset Group Number/length

Cycleways (all cycleways): TBC

Off road cycleways TBC

On road cycleways TBC

Route

Classification

Highway Structures

Road

Bridges

(RB)

Subways

(S)

Foot Bridges

(FB)

Culverts

(c)

Retaining Walls

Sign

Gantries

Strategic Non

Trunk Route

Primary

28 5 - 2 3 -

Regional Primary Route

A

19 - - 4 1 3

Principal/Urban

Distributor

B

54 3 1 7 7 -

Secondary

Distributor

C

23 - 1 11 2 -

Local U

10 - 1 5 - -

Rural

Footpaths

2 - 71 7 - -

Others 19 1 2 2 - -

Totals 155 9 78 39 13 3

Total 297


Appendix G – Communication

Strategy

Highway Infrastructure

Asset Management Plan

Communication Strategy

October 2017

2

Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3

One Trafford ................................................................................................................................. 3

Our Communication Approach ........................................................................................................ 4

Communication Strategy Objectives.................................................................................................... 5

Audiences ......................................................................................................................................... 6

Engagement - Stakeholders ............................................................................................................ 6

Engagement - Elected Members ..................................................................................................... 6

Engagement - Public ...................................................................................................................... 6

National Highways & Transportation Survey (NHT) .......................................................................... 6

Communication Channels ................................................................................................................ 8

Local Media ....................................................................................................................................... 8

Digital Media ..................................................................................................................................... 8

Face to Face & Telephone .................................................................................................................. 8

Marketing Materials ........................................................................................................................... 8

Marketing Materials ........................................................................................................................... 8

Communications Plan ........................................................................................................................ 9

Evaluation ........................................................................................................................................ 10

3

Introduction Asset management has been widely accepted by central and local government as a means to deliver a more efficient and effective approach to management of highway infrastructure assets through longer term planning, ensuring that standards are defined and achievable for available budgets. It also supports making the case for funding and better communication with stakeholders, facilitating a greater understanding of the contribution highway infrastructure assets make to economic growth and the needs of local communities.

This new Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Communication Strategy document for Trafford Council has been constructed to raise awareness and understanding of the council’s highways asset management objectives, as outlined in Trafford Council’s Asset Management Policy:

Maintain roads in a safe and serviceable condition.

Deliver a road and transport infrastructure that seeks to meet the needs of Trafford’s residents, visitors and businesses.

To provide our road users with a reasonable level of confidence that their journeys on the highway will be predictable and timely.

To ensure that the highway network is available and accessible, as far as possible.

To progressively reduce the environmental impact of the highway asset for the benefit of all our road users.

This includes the work that goes into maintaining and improving the county’s roads, pavements structures and street lighting, ensuring that all communications are timely, positive, informative and accessible.

Trafford’s highway network comprises just over 834 km of carriageway, most of which is in an urban environment. The unclassified network accounts for around 653km of the asset which is approximately 78% of the whole network. The footway and cycleway network is approximately 1,196 km. The asset also includes, over 11,900 traffic signs and approximately 27,900 lighting columns. In terms of structures, Trafford Council is responsible for 297 road bridges, footbridges and numerous underpasses, subways, culverts, and retaining walls. The highway asset also includes safety fences, drainage, street furniture and road markings.

Trafford Council has calculated the asset value in accordance with the requirements for Whole of Government Accounts (WGA). All highway assets have been valued at £1.534 Billion1; this makes them the most valuable asset owned by Trafford Council.

One Trafford

Amey and Trafford Council are working in partnership to deliver environmental and infrastructure services for Trafford.

The new partnership, formed in 2015, delivers commercial and domestic waste collections, street cleaning, grounds maintenance, highways services, bridges, road safety, street lighting and furniture, drainage and property services.

With an overarching asset management framework, this contract will aim to produce a leaner delivery model, efficient and optimised programmes of work and introduce, innovative and new technologies across the services to deliver a more efficient approach for the Council and the residents of Trafford.

1 Based on WGA 16/17 Gross Replacement Cost (not including land value)

4

Our Communication Approach

Managing highways is now a critical challenge to local councils, who have to manage an ageing network

with high public expectations for safe, reliable and comfortable travel. At the same time, resources are

reducing, with less funding available, increased pressure for other local government services and skills

shortages.

Highways are increasingly at risk of damage from wear and tear, ageing, increasing traffic and severe

weather. This regularly results in visible defects like potholes, damaged road signs, defective street lights

and in extreme cases, damage to bridges. These defects are seen and felt by all and often result in

negative media coverage.

As time goes by roads that are currently in good condition will deteriorate, just like any physical asset such

as a house or a vehicle. To keep on top of the deterioration of our asset we must invest continually in

maintenance. We are unlikely to ever be in the position where we have enough money to maintain every

road that needs work in a single year, so we have to make the best use of the resources we have to get

the best investment results for our customers.

There’s a justified expectation that journeys should be reliable, and with all residents using the network,

means that people’s satisfaction with it is closely linked to the council’s reputation as a whole. Therefore, it

is important to ensure that councillors, customers, partners and organisations value and feel engaged in

the work that we do to maintain and improve the network, but also understand the financial challenges we

face.

It is clear that action must be taken to make best use of funding and to communicate this process if our

highways are going to continue to provide the service for which they were built, and our customers are

confident that we are spending money wisely.

A Communications Strategy is a way of describing how we manage our assets and how our approach is

actively communicated through engagement with relevant stakeholders in setting requirements, making

decisions and reporting performance.

To ensure that people are actively engaged we need to be open and honest about how we make decisions

in the identification, assessment, programming, delivery and completion of asset management activities,

including maintenance works, and how people are involved in making decisions for the service provided by

the network.

To make sure we are doing all we can and obtain the maximum funding from Government, we have to

evidence the following self-assessment questions which are relevant to this communications strategy:

• Has your local authority communicated its approach to highway infrastructure asset management?

• Does your local authority undertake customer satisfaction surveys into the condition of its highway network and if so how does it use this information to help drive service improvement?

• Does your local authority have a mechanism in place to gather customer feedback on its highway maintenance service and if so how does it use this information?

• How does your local authority ensure that customers are kept informed about their highway maintenance service?

5

Communication Strategy Objectives

• To gain political commitment and senior officers support for effective and efficient asset management.

• To inform people how we spend their money wisely on maintaining and improving the highways network, using the best treatments.

• To engage and listen to community concerns about the network and feedback our progress on a regular and timely basis.

• To demonstrate the positive work being carried out to maintain and improve the county’s network.

• To communicate with businesses, partners, community groups and other organisations – as well as with residents.

• To communicate with people of all ages, in all locations, including young people.

• To demonstrate that people’s views do matter and do make a difference.

6

Audiences

Engagement - Stakeholders

People, groups of people, or organisations that can affect or be affected by the policies and actions of

Trafford Council are all stakeholders of the highway network. Managing stakeholder expectations and

addressing their needs is a key aspect of asset management.

In the context of the highway service, stakeholders are many and diverse and will be considered in

different ways. They are likely to include:

• Government - through HM Treasury, DfT and other Departments, that have an interest through legislation, provision of funding.

• Trafford locally elected members.

• Trafford residents.

• Trafford businesses.

• Representative groups e.g. Parish Councils, the disabled groups.

• Other interest groups e.g. cycling, walking, conservation, equestrian groups etc.

• Hard to reach or involve groups such as young people, the disadvantaged and elderly.

• Emergency services.

• Utility services.

• Neighbouring authorities and TfGM (traffic signals, passenger transport, cycling), Taxi Trade etc.

• Highways England

Effective engagement with stakeholders is a key in managing expectations and therefore satisfaction with

Trafford Council services. We will engage with and involve key stakeholder groups such as local

communities, local businesses and services; as per the list above, in a variety of different ways to achieve

effective stakeholder engagement.

Engagement - Elected Members

We will ensure clear and accurate information is made available to help with the decision making process

and to demonstrate the cost benefits of lifecycle planning and an Asset Management approach.

Trafford is developing an indicative, rolling multi-year works programme. This programme effectively

remains live and an annual ‘snapshot’ of this programme will be passed to Trafford Council for

consideration and approval. The benefit of an ‘organic’ rolling programme means all parties will be able to

analyse and feed into this programme, such that views can be considered where appropriate, at an earlier

stage than was previously possible.

Engagement - Public

We aim to publish the 5 Year Maintenance Programme on our public website so that all stakeholders can

see an indication of future maintenance plans. We anticipate this will help those who do not share detailed

engineering knowledge to be able to see the decisions we are making and the reasons for them, and no

stakeholders are excluded from the process.

7

Trafford Council’s public website is regularly reviewed to make the user experience more beneficial. This

will cover all areas of service including highways and we are working with our web developers to ensure

highway maintenance is properly represented in these changes.

Along with our maintenance activities, we plan to publish information on the work we are doing with

regard to funding bids, policies and Asset Management approaches to provide openness to our customers.

We will also use customer feedback to inform maintenance programmes and will publish details of the

measures taken to respond to feedback and to publish the feedback on service delivery performance on

our website.

With the current proliferation of smart phones and the rise of social media, we are developing the

capability for stakeholders to interact with the local authority on highway related matters, and other

services using a variety of platforms.

National Highways & Transportation Survey (NHT)

In 2016 Trafford contributed to the annual NHT Survey for the purposes of both benchmarking alongside

similar authorities and gauging the level of stakeholder satisfaction with our services. We will continue this

going forward.

We will also review the performance of customer satisfaction surveys and identify potential for

improvement with our action plan.

8

Communication Channels

The communications channels that are used will strive to increase people’s understanding of the work that

we do to maintain and improve the highway network.

All communications should be timely, positive, informative and accessible. To do this tailored

communications tools will be used to inform the different target audiences.

A communications plan highlighting the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan’s key messages

together with who they’re aimed at and how and when they will be communicated has been developed.

Local Media

Press releases and media relations - Press releases will be written and published. These will be useful to

keep a consistent flow of accurate information in the media, including relevant specialist publications, and

ensure that all audiences are kept up to date.

Media briefings - The media are briefed and kept up to date on key schemes. This will ensure a co-

operative relationship that fosters understanding between the media and the council and it will help to

form a positive partnership to alleviate any negative coverage.

Digital Media

It is important to use the latest technology developments to expand on opportunities to communicate

more effectively with external audiences.

Webcasts - Watch webcasts of Trafford Council public meetings live and on demand from your home,

office or on the move with your smartphone or tablet. Visit our Public-i site.

Social media - The use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter is a good way to communicate,

engage and educate people and we will continue to use these services.

Trafford Council website – the website is kept up to date with information. It’s clear on the highways

homepage how people can report highway defects but we will review to making the process clear so that

customers know what will happen to their enquiry, and also when they will expect to hear back from us.

Email Distribution List – An email distribution list of all relevant stakeholders will be developed

informing them of works programmes, schemes, developments etc. as this is deemed the most efficient

way of communicating to a large number of interested parties.

Face to Face & Telephone

Members briefing sessions and members bulletin – keeping local members up to date is key to

managing people’s expectations, especially about more disruptive schemes.

Staff briefings – The Customer Service Centre (CSC) will be well briefed in order to deal with and

signpost any calls regarding the condition of the highway network.

Meetings with external groups and organisations – to inform and engage. By building good

relationships with external groups and organisations on particular schemes we can manage expectations

and keep them informed.

Marketing Materials

Marketing and design - marketing materials will be used to include posters and scheme signage

informing people before, during and after larger schemes have been completed.

Door drops – to households to be affected by roadworks.

The National Highways and Transport Public Opinion Survey (NHT survey)

Communications Plan

Message Audience Communication channel Activity Timescale

Policy,

Strategy &

Plan

We have a new strategy to maintain our road network adopting a

‘preventative’ approach

Key Stakeholders,

Elected Members &

Public

Briefing to Council Members

Council decision report Trafford Council website

Leaflet on Trafford Council website and in libraries

Twitter Face to Face with local members

On site message boards

Before/after publication

of new HIAMP – Autumn/Winter 2017 &

annual review

Programming

Discover our five-year indicative maintenance programme at

www.trafford.gov.uk

Key Stakeholders, Elected Members &

Public

Council decision report

Trafford Council website Email Distribution List

Face to Face with local members On site message boards

After approval of Council report, Winter

2017, updated annually

This year we will be investing £xxx road network

Key Stakeholders,

Elected Members &

Public

Council decision report Trafford Council website

Email Distribution List Cycle Forum

Face to Face with local members Media Briefings

Spring – annually (once

service budgets have

been allocated)

We are delivering xxx schemes over

the next 12 months

Key Stakeholders,

Elected Members & Public

Council decision report

Trafford Council website Email Distribution List

Cycle Forum

Face to Face with local members Media Briefings

Spring – annually (once

service budgets have been allocated)

Operations

We maintain over 834 km roads and 1,196 km of footway and cycleways.

Over 11,900 traffic signs, 27,900

lighting columns. 297 bridges and numerous underpasses, subways,

culverts, and retaining walls.


Public

Trafford Council website On site message boards

On site signage

Letter/Leaflet drop as appropriate Email Distribution List

Twitter

On-going - before and

during works

We’re gritting to keep you moving in the Winter Months – We have xxx

tonnes of salt to keep you moving on our major routes


Public

Trafford Council website Signage

Twitter Email Distribution List

On-going in the winter

months

Evaluation

Evaluation of this strategy will be carried out on an ongoing basis to ensure that communications are delivering the aims and objectives in this strategy. This will include the regular monitoring of media

coverage and direct feedback from residents and partners.

Success of our strategy will be measured by:

• Increased satisfaction with highways condition via the National Highways and Transport Public

Opinion Survey.

• Increased satisfaction with highways maintenance via the National Highways and Transport Public

Opinion Survey.

• Number of retweets, likes and comments on social media

• Amount and nature of media coverage

• Comments and complaints raised about highways

• Number of hits on the website